PRIME MINISTER

2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when the Cabinet Committee overseeing the London 2012 Olympics is next due to meet; who will attend; and what the agenda is;
	(2)  whether the minutes of the Cabinet Committee overseeing the London 2012 Olympics will be made public.

Tony Blair: Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice and the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees is generally not disclosed, as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
	Details of the membership and terms of reference of the Committee are available in the Libraries of both Houses and on the Cabinet Office website.

Defence Decisions (Military Officers)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to allow the most senior serving military officers to express their views publicly on whether the country should go to war; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The policy for serving military officers publicly expressing their views on matters of Government policy is set out in the Defence Council Instruction Contact with the media and writing or speaking in public". This is available in the Libraries of the House and is reflected in each service's Queen's Regulations.

Downing Street Tours

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will invite a group of children from Shrewsbury withspecial needs to visit No. 10 Downing Street for a tour.

Tony Blair: Hon. Members from all parties are invited on a rolling programme to nominate and accompany a small group of children from their constituencies to have tea at No.10 Downing Street. Hon. Members are invited to select, in a fair and open way, children and adults who have a particular interest in visiting No. 10 Downing Street. Since 1998 approximately 424 MPs have accepted invitations for children to come for tea.

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Michael Gove: To ask the Prime Minister what was agreed at the Warwick National Policy Forum in regard to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Tony Blair: The National Policy Forum in Warwick was a Labour Party event.

Homeland Security

Peter Bone: To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to establish a separate Department with responsibility for homeland security.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), at Prime Minister's questions on 8 September 2004, Official Report, column 711.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with General Sir Michael Rose concerning Iraq and the situation in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: None.

Little Haven Children's Hospice

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit Little Haven Children's Hospice in Castle Point to review the work of the hospice and its funding levels.

Tony Blair: I have no current plans to do so. However, I appreciate and fully support the excellent work that children's hospices do for children and their families.

Terrorism Victims (Compensation)

Quentin Davies: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to establish a scheme to provide compensation to British citizens who are the victims of terrorist acts abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) at Prime Minister's Questions on 19 October 2005, Official Report, columns 838–39.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crime Clear-up Rates

Andrew Turner: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 1W, on crime clear-up rates, how many offenders went before the courts in each area listed in the table in each year between 2000 and 2005; how many (a) pleaded guilty and (b) were found guilty in each year; how many (i) cases and (ii) charges were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in each year; and on how many occasions the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a charge in favour of a less serious charge.

Mike O'Brien: I have placed tables in the Library of the House that show the number of defendants whose case was completed in magistrates courts and in the Crown court, in each Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Area, in each of the years in question; the number resulting in guilty plea; the number found guilty after trial; the number whose case was discontinued; and, for completeness, the number resulting in other outcomes. The tables also express each outcome as a proportion of the total.
	Other outcomes" comprise cases in which the defendant was found not guilty after trial; cases discharged in the course of committal proceedings; and cases which could not proceed because the defendant could not be traced by the police, or had died, or been found unfit to plead.
	The CPS reports case outcomes at defendant level, and holds no central information on the outcome of specific charges. This information is held on individual case files, and could be retrieved only by examining every file in each CPS office. It is therefore not possible to provide figures for the number of charges discontinued, nor on the number of occasions on which a charge was dropped in favour of a less serious charge.
	Figures for 2005 are provisional, and may be subject to revision.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Solicitor-General how much was spent by the Law Officers on plants in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: I am informed that the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate have not incurred costs on plants since 1997. The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers spent £40 in 2005. The Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office do incur expenditure on plants for its offices but no central records are kept of such expenditure specifically on plants. It would incur disproportionate cost to identify the figures.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Administration Costs

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administration costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Jim Knight: Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) is published annually by HM Treasury. It includes various analyses of public expenditure including Country and Regional Analysis in chapter 8, the data for which are obtained from Departments each year as part of the Country and Regional Analysis exercise (CRA). Treasury does not, however, monitor country or regional administration costs separately. The information is available at the following address on Treasury's website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/172/83/pesa2005_ chapter8.pdf
	Provisional 2004–05 departmental administration costs outturn are set out in Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (CMD 6639), which is available in the Library.
	Defra's Departmental Report 2005 (CMD 6537) gives an overview of Defra's activities over 2004–05, and includes some tables of expenditure on services by function, country and region. The information is available at the following address on Defra's website:
	http://defraweb/corporate/deprep/default.htm
	This report is also available in the Library, or can be obtained in hard copy from The Stationery Office (ISO), ISBN 0101653727.

Administration Costs

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the administrative costs were of each agency for which she has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Jim Knight: Costs for each of the Defra executive agencies for 2004–05 are in their annual reports with accounts, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. In the reports these are not further classified as identifiable" or non-identifiable", i.e. whether or not they benefit particular individuals, enterprises or communities within particular regions. Administrative costs for 2004–05 are set out in the following table.
	
		£000
		
			 Agency Administrative costs for 2004–05 
		
		
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and  Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) 37,300 
			 Central Science Laboratory (CSL) 43,000 
			 Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) 9,161 
			 Rural Payments Agency (RPA) 249,208 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) 99,081 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) 8,304 
			 Government Decontamination Service (CDS) (1)— 
			 Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) (1)— 
			 State Veterinary Service (SVS) (1)— 
			 Total 446,054 
		
	
	(1)New agency in 2005—data not available.
	Information on the precise apportionment of individual Defra executive agency administration costs to the identifiable" and non-identifiable" categories for the purpose of the Country and Regional Analyses exercise is available only at disproportionate cost.

Administration Costs

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales; and what administration costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Jim Knight: Provisional 2004–05 departmental administration costs outturn are set out in Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (CMD 6639), which is available in the Library. The administration budgets regime Treasury oversees is for Whitehall Departments only. How running costs are controlled in the devolved Administrations is a matter for them.
	Defra's Departmental Report 2005 (CMD 6537) gives an overview of Defra's activities over 2004–05, and includes some tables of expenditure on services by function, country and region. The information is available at the following address on Defra's website:
	http://defraweb/corporate/deprep/default.htm
	This report is also available in the Library, or can be obtained in hard copy from The Stationery Office (TSO), ISBN 0101653727.

Administration Costs

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the administrative costs were of each non-departmental public body for which she has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Jim Knight: Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA), which is published annually by HM Treasury, includes various analyses of public expenditure. However, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), apart from ACAS and HSE, are not covered by the Treasury's administration budgets regime.
	Information on NDPBs' administrative costs is not collected centrally in Defra and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Animal Welfare

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the animal welfare units at Aston Down and Polwhele have been closed; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Wildlife Units at Aston Down and Polwhele have not been closed. Staff are still working to conclude the final surveying element of the randomised badger culling trial (RBCT).
	Decisions about the future of these units will be taken after the consultation on badger culling as a means of controlling bovine tuberculosis in cattle in England has ended. The cost benefit analysis which supports our consultation shows that state operated culling could lead to higher costs and slower delivery compared with other options. So our intention is to redeploy or release workers who have carried out cage trapping at the end of the RBCT. Remaining staff, who could be used to support any future culling policy, will be retained.

Animal Welfare

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968;
	(4)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962;
	(5)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963;
	(6)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970;
	(7)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954;
	(8)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960;
	(9)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Docking and Nicking of Horses Act 1949;
	(10)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Protection of Animals Act 1911;
	(11)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925;
	(12)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Protection of Animals Act 1934;
	(13)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Pet Animals Act 1951;
	(14)  if she will make a statement on the operation of the Cockfighting Act 1952.

Ben Bradshaw: We have looked at all these Acts as part of the review of animal welfare legislation that informed the drafting of the Animal Welfare Bill. While much of this legislation still provides valuable protection for animals there is scope, in some areas, for updating, simplifying and improvement.

Avian Influenza

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often rural workers are being kept informed of precautions to take with regard to the H5N1 influenza strain; and by what methods.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has distributed guidance materials on avian influenza to a range of industry groups, including the British Poultry Council, the British Egg Industry Council and the National Farmers Union and these stakeholders are helping to distribute information to their members. A simple one-page leaflet on biosecurity and surveillance for smaller businesses and back yard keepers has been produced as well. This has been widely circulated, including to all veterinary practices. The leaflet has also been placed in the trade and specialist press to help with targeting the same audience.
	Specific guidance on worker protection has been issued by an industry and cross-departmental working group. This is also available on the avian influenza pages of the Defra website.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many wild birds have been tested for avian influenza in each of the last six months; whether each bird was (a) found dead, (b) shot and (c) trapped alive; whether each bird was (i) wildfowl and (ii) other species; in which country eachwas taken; and what the results were of the test on each.

Ben Bradshaw: To date approximately 3,179 wild birds have been tested for avian influenza viruses as part of surveillance activities across the UK.
	Of these 131 were found dead, 326 were shot as part of legal wildfowling activities and 2,722 were caught and sampled live. 239 were sampled in Scotland, 2,621 in England and Wales and 319 in Northern Ireland. 3,078 were wildfowl and 101 were other species
	Two birds tested positive for low pathogenic avian influenza viruses. A mallard shot in Scotland tested positive for the subtype H6N2 and a shelduck that was caught live in England tested positive for the subtype H2.
	All other results to date have been negative.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many poultry flocks have been registered under the Avian Influenza (Preventative Measures) (No 2) Regulations 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: As of midnight on 10 January 2005, 1,677 eligible poultry premises have been registered on the GB poultry register under the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (No 2) Regulations 2005 and the equivalent regulations for Scotland and Wales. All eligible premises are required to register by 28 February 2006.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to raise awareness among poultry keepers of therequirements of the Avian Influenza (Preventative Measures) (No 2) Regulations 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA has distributed guidance materials to a range of industry groups, including the British Poultry Council, the British Egg Industry Council and the National Farmers Union. These stakeholders are helping to distribute information to their members. We have also provided leaflets and posters to farmers and to many other people, including local veterinary surgeons and placed advertisements in poultry hobby magazines. Guidance is also available on the avian influenza pages of the DEFRA website.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for the release of gamebirds during 2006 of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Restrictions on the movement of poultry in the event of an outbreak are contained within the Diseases of Poultry Order 2003. Gamebirds fall within the definition of poultry within this order if they are reared or kept in captivity and there are no plans to treat gamebird activity any differently from the remainder of the poultry industry.
	Gamebird shooting parties are allowed provided birds are not brought together for the shoot from different premises and the event organiser advises the local animal health office that the event is taking place.
	The provisions of the Diseases of Poultry Order 2003 include the imposition of movement controls on suspicion of disease, and where disease is confirmed, the imposition of a protection zone and a surveillance zone around the infected premises by declaratory order. These measures would prohibit the release of gamebirds in those zones. The order also allows the elimination of the disease by slaughter of infected and contact animals.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she has prepared for game farmers and gamekeepers regarding the release of game birds during 2006 in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Working closely with industry Defra has issued guidance for all bird keepers, including those involved with the release of game birds. A leaflet on improving biosecurity and surveillance has been circulated to smaller businesses. We have also placed information in the trade and specialist press and on the Defra website. An industry and cross-Department working group has issued specific guidance on worker protection.

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prepare for the isolation of free range poultry flocks in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the Government's current programme to reduce the risks posed by avian influenza bird owners would be required, wherever practicable, to move their birds indoors as soon as possible if a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza were found in Great Britain. In cases where housing is not practicable, the keeper will be required to take all reasonable measures to minimise contact with wild birds.
	These requirements would be invoked as a precautionary measure to avoid spread of the disease while an outbreak is investigated. As information about the source and nature of any outbreak became available, the Government's strategy would be to lift or reduce the requirements as soon as appropriate.
	Guidance on separating domestic poultry flocks from wild birds has been issued to a wide range of industry groups and bird keepers. We have also issued advice for poultry keepers on how to improve biosecurity.
	We have also established the Great Britain Poultry Register to gather essential information about certain species of birds held on commercial premises in Great Britain. This will help reduce the impact of an outbreak of avian influenza by enabling rapid communication with keepers, and help in targeting resources where they are needed most.

Avian Influenza

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 November to question 27526, when she expects to present the outcome of the consideration to the House; in what form; and whether legislative changes are being considered.

Ben Bradshaw: I assume the hon. Member means the answer to question 27525 regarding financial resources being made available to publicise the procedures that should be followed by local authorities who suspect the presence of avian influenza. I apologise for the delay in replying.
	My officials are in regular contact with the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), representing local authorities, who have produced a template for local authority contingency plans for animal disease control. Consideration of funding arrangements for local authorities for work following an outbreak of avian influenza is ongoing. It will not lead to a need for legislative changes.

Badgers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons gassing has been ruled out as a method of culling badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Gassing has not been ruled out as a method of culling badgers. We are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy.

Badgers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility with the Berne Convention of the practice of licensing individual farmers to cull badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: We are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy. Any new culling policy would have to be sustainable and take account of legislation protecting the welfare of badgers. But no decisions have yet been made.
	Badgers are listed as a protected species under Appendix III of the Berne Convention, but they are not an endangered species. The Berne Convention allows regulated management of a protected species as long as this is not
	detrimental to the survival of the population concerned".

Avian Quarantine

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the quarantine system since the testing of the sentinel birds in the quarantine centre in Farmbridge.

Ben Bradshaw: We are carefully considering the recommendations of the Independent Review of Avian Quarantine in close consultation with EU partners and stakeholders. We will implement any essential recommendations as quickly as possible, before imports of captive birds resume.

Bonfires

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to reduce the frequency of bonfires in rural areas.

Ben Bradshaw: Bonfires on domestic and business premises, including those in rural areas, are already regulated under the statutory nuisance provisions in sections 79 to 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This means that local authorities have a duty to investigate complaints of smoke from premises which are prejudicial to health or a nuisance, and if satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists an abatement notice must be served requiring the abatement of the nuisance or the restriction of its occurrence or recurrence. Failure to comply with the terms of an abatement notice will, upon summary conviction, result in a fine of up to £5,000 for domestic premises and £20,000 for business premises. In addition, Section 2 of the Clean Air Act 1993 prohibits emissions of dark smoke from industrial and trade premises, which can include agricultural and horticultural premises.
	The Government are taking further steps to regulate bonfires. The proposed Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2006 would stop the unregulated burning of waste from any mine, quarry or agricultural premises.

CAP Payments

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Common Agricultural Policy payments were allocated to small farmers in the UK in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: Taking the definition of a small farmer to be one who receives less than £10,000 in CAP aid per year, 58 per cent. of claimants in 2004–05 European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund year (16 October 2004 to 15 October 2005) could be described as small farmers and received 9 per cent. of the total aid paid.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the proposed closure of the Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Monks Wood; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 9 January 2006
	The Department has had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the closure of the Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Monks Wood. The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is a wholly-owned Research Centre of the Natural Environment Research Council which provides independent research and training in the environmental sciences. The future shape of the Centre for Ecology has been informed by a strategic review that involved extensive consultation with stakeholders including DEFRA.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact on environmental research of the proposed closure of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Monks Wood; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 9 January 2006
	The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) iscurrently consulting on a proposed restructuring of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). The proposals include the potential closure of the site at Monks Wood. The aim of the restructuring proposal is to ensure the long term sustainability of CEH which will ensure continued capacity for environmental research in the UK into the future. NERC has confirmed that the scientific programmes for the restructured CEH will be:
	Biodiversity
	Water
	Biogeochemistry
	Climate Change
	Sustainable Economics
	Environmental Informatics
	The proposed closure of specific sites does not imply that the research carried out at those sites will be discontinued.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of sections (a) 3 to 9, (b) 10 to 14 and (c) 28 to 32 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: Sections 3 to 9 deal with the nuisance to local residents caused by the sale and repair of vehicles on the road.
	These sections:
	Make it an offence to leave or cause to leave two or more vehicles on a road within 500 metres of each other where they are exposed for sale. The offence will not be committed if the sale is not for the purpose of a business of selling motor vehicles.
	Make it an offence to carry out restricted works on a motor vehicle on a road. The offence is not committed if the works are legitimately needed due to a breakdown or are not for the purposes of a business. However, the business defence does not apply if the works give reasonable cause for annoyance to persons in the vicinity.
	Allow for the issue of a £100 fixed penalty for the above offences.
	Create an offence to give false information to a local authority officer.
	Are enforceable by the local authority.
	Interim guidance on these sections was issued to local authorities on 3 June 2005 and will be updated as part of the Act's full guidance issued in March 2006.
	Sections 10–14 deal with the enforcement, removal, and disposal of abandoned vehicles and amend the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978. These sections:
	Allow for the issue of a £200 fixed penalty notice for the offence of abandonment.
	Create an offence to give false information to a local authority officer.
	Removes the requirement to give notice before removing a vehicle from occupied land where the land is on a 'road'. This will include roads running through housing estates.
	Removes the requirement to give 24 hours notice before the removal of a vehicle that ought to be destroyed.
	Allow for the immediate disposal of abandoned vehicles that do not display a valid tax disc and a registration plate.
	Remove the requirement to wait for the expiration of a valid tax disc before disposal.
	Gives the Government the power to issue statutory guidance that local authorities must have regard to when exercising their abandoned vehicle functions.
	Are enforceable by the local authority.
	Interim guidance on these sections was issued to local authorities on 18 October 2005 and will be updated as part of the Act's full guidance issued in March 2006.
	Sections 28–30 make changes to fixed penalty notices for graffiti and flyposting, by amending section 43 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. This will allow local authorities to specify the level of penalty themselves within a range that will be set out by the Secretary of State in regulations. If they do not choose to specify their own level, a default amount of £75 will apply. It also widens the range of officers who will be able to issue fixed penalties for graffiti and fly-posting offences by enabling local authorities to authorise officers other than their own employees to issue them, as well as giving the power of issue to parish councils. A new section 43B will also be inserted into the 2003 Act, making it an offence for someone to fail to provide their name and address details when requested to do so by an authorised officer.
	These sections will help encourage more effective enforcement by increasing the number of officers with the power to address minor acts of graffiti and fly-posting, and by giving local authorities flexibility in setting the penalties that will apply.
	Section 31 of the Act will enable local authorities to require the removal of both graffiti and fly-posting where this is defacing street furniture and other relevant surfaces belonging to statutory undertakers. Currently this power is available for graffiti in 12 pilot authority areas under section 48 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The 2005 Act extends these provisions so that 'defacement removal notices' will be available for dealing with fly-posting as well as graffiti, thus allowing more co-ordinated removal from affected surfaces.
	Under the Act it is an offence for anyone to sell aerosol paint to anyone under the age of 16. From 1 July 2005, this provision has been supplemented by a requirement under section 32 which places a duty on local trading standards to carry out a review of underage sales once every 12 months and take enforcement action where necessary. Guidance for the operation of section 32 and for test purchasing aerosol paints can be found on the TOGETHER website (http://www.together.gov.uk/article.asp?aid=3435).

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expectseach section of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to come into force.

Ben Bradshaw: The current timetable for commencement is as follows:
	
		
			 Section Date to be commenced 
		
		
			 1 Crime and disorder reduction strategies To be confirmed 
			 2 Gating orders By spring 2006 
			 3–5 Nuisance parking offences 7 June 2005 
			 6–9 Nuisance Parking Offences: fixed penalty notices Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 10–14 Abandoned vehicles 18 October 2005 
			 15–17 Illegally parked vehicles 18 October 2005 
			 18 Offence of dropping litter 7 June 2005 
			 19 Litter offence: fixed penalty notice Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 20–22 Litter and refuse—local authority notices Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 23 Free distribution of printed matter Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 24–26 Litter and refuse—general Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 27 "Litter" 7 June 2005 
			 28–31 Graffiti and flyposting Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 32 Sale of aerosol paint to children — 
			 33 Unlawful display of advertisements: defences 7 June 2005 
			 34 Removal of placards and posters Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 35 Unregistered transport: defence of acting under employer's instructions 7 June 2005 
			 36 Registration requirements and conditions 7 June 2005 
			 37 Transport of waste: enforcement powers Planned for spring 2007 
			 38–39 Failure to produce authority: fixed penalty notices Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 40 Defence of acting under employer's instructions 7 June 2005 
			 41 Penalties on conviction 7 June 2005 
			 42 Investigation and enforcement costs 18 October 2005 
			 43 Clean up costs 18 October 2005 
			 44 Forfeiture of vehicles 18 October 2005 
			 45 Failure to furnish documentation: fixed penalty notices Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 46 Power to search and seize vehicles Planned for spring 2007 
			 47 Abolition of requirement to contract out waste disposal functions 18 October 2005 
			 48–50 Local authority waste collection and disposal Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 51–52 Appropriate person and use of fixed penalty receipts Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 53 Supplementary enforcement powers 18 October 2005 
			 54 Site waste management plans 7 June 2005 
			 55–58 Dog control orders Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 59–62 Fixed penalty notices Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 63–65 Supplementary Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 66–67 General Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 68 Termination of police responsibility for stray dogs Date still to be decided 
			 69–76 Alarm notification areas Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 77–79 Powers in relation to alarms Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 80–81 Supplementary Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 82, 84, 85 Noise from premises Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 83 Noise offences: use of fixed penalty notices 7 June 2005 
			 86 Deferral of duty to serve abatement notice Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 87–95 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment 1 January 2006 
			 96–98 Miscellaneous—use of fixed penalty receipts Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 99–100 Shopping and luggage trolleys Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 101–103 Statutory nuisances Planned for 6 April 2006 
			 104 Contaminated land: appeals against remediation notices Planned for spring 2006 
			 105 Offences relating to pollution etc: penalties on conviction 7 June 2005

Climate Change

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what data the Government have concerning changes in any international comparisons with similar or greater changes in rain and snowfall; and with changes in peak flows and flooding in river catchment areas in North West Europe or elsewhere;
	(2)  what data the Government holds concerning changes in the intensity of rain and snowfall measured by meteorological stations in the United Kingdom; what recent trends have been observed in such intensity; and whether there have been associated changes in (a) peak flows and (b) flooding in river catchment areas.

Elliot Morley: Defra has policy responsibility for flood risk management in England. The Met Office is a Trading Fund within the Ministry of Defence and one of the world's leading providers of environmental and weather-related services. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body of Defra and is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England.
	I understand the Met Office has analysed data relating to changes in the intensity of rain in the UK and also data relating to changes in the intensity of rain in North West Europe and countries elsewhere in the world but has not specifically compared the changes in the UK with the changes in these other regions.
	The Met Office has looked at trends in annual average precipitation intensity in the UK over the period 1961–2004. Their assessment is that precipitation intensity has increased since 1961 by 5–10 per cent. in most parts of the UK apart from north-west England. This increase is statistically significant for East Anglia, the Midlands, south-west England, and most of Scotland. Trends in snowfall intensity have not been specifically studied but there has been a decreasing trend in days of snow cover for all parts of the UK since 1981.
	I understand from the Environment Agency that measurement of change in peak flows and flood risk over time is difficult and not helped by the brevity of historical records and large year-on-year variations in precipitation and peak river flows.
	The Agency is collecting high-flow data to undertake the necessary analysis in future. Recent reviews of seasonal mean river flows do show some evidence of autumn and winter increases since the 1970s.

Coastal Access

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish new guidance on access to coastal countryside areas.

Jim Knight: We are talking to a range of interested parties to inform the development of detailed options for improving access to coastal land. We then plan to consult publicly in October 2006.

Coastal Erosion

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest assessment is of the rate of coastal erosion.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for coastal erosion risk in England and grant aids local authority improvement projects to reduce this risk but does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake. Management of coastal erosion risk and associated monitoring is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in each area.
	Erosion risk will vary around the coastline depending on local conditions and defences in place. Defra has encouraged the relevant authorities to produce Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) which provide large-scale assessments of the risks associated with coastal processes and present long term policy frameworks to manage these risks in a sustainable manner. In 2001 Defra funded a national study of information on long term coastal processes and evolution over the next century (Futurecoast). This is designed to be used by coastal authorities to inform their current revisions of SMPs.
	The Office of Science and Technology's Foresight Future Flooding report, published in 2004, also considered possible rates of coastal erosion under different scenarios over the next 80 years.

Constituency Dispute (Leominster)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to investigate the dispute between Mr. Gilgan, Ms Quershi and Mrs. Booton, constituents of the hon. Member for Leominster;
	(2)  when she will reply to the letter of 5 December from the hon. Member for Leominster about the treatment of his constituents Ms Qureshi and Mrs.Booton by officials in her Department.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 12 January 2006
	I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member's letter, which deals with the dispute involving his constituents. I will reply shortly.

Departmental Property

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid by her Department in rates to each local authority in the UK in 2004–05; and what the total paid in (a) each (i) nation and (ii) region of the UK and (b) London was in that year.

Ben Bradshaw: The amounts paid by the Department in rates in 2004–05 are summarised on spreadsheets by local authority, by nation and region of the UK and in London made available in the Library of the House.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Committee on the Financial instrument for the Environment, (b) Committee for the application of the Regulation authorising voluntary participation by undertakings in the industrial sector in a Community eco-management and audit scheme and (c) Committee for the implementation of the Directive on the incineration of hazardous waste have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: During the UK presidency there was one meeting of the Committee on the Financial instrument for the Environment (the LIFE-Committee), which was held in July 2005 and was chaired by the European Commission. Two officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) attended the meeting.
	There was also one meeting of the Committee for the application of the Regulation allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). The European Commission presided over the meeting. The two UK representatives at the meeting were from Defra and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, the UK competent body for EMAS.
	No Committees were held during this period for the implementation of the Directive on the incineration of hazardous waste.
	The devolved administrations are routinely asked to represent their views.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Madagascar), (b) Standing Committee for implementation of the Directive on the marketing of biological products, (c) Committee on evaluation and control of the risks of existing products and (d) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the provisions on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of dangerous substances and preparations have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Comoros), (b) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Co(r)te d'Ivoire) and (c) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Estonia) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present;what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Fisheries JointCommittee (EEC-Gambia), (b) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Greenland) and (c) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Guinea) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Guinea Bissau), (b) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Equatorial Guinea) and (c) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Mauritius) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Sao Tome and Principe), (b) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Senegal) and (c) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Seychelles) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement;
	(6)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Committee on supply of agricultural products to the population of the former Soviet Union, (b) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Angola), (c) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Argentina) and (d) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Cape Verde) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement;
	(7)  how many meetings of the EU (a) Fisheries JointCommittee (EEC-Morocco), (b) Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Mauritania and (c) Fisheries Joint Committee (EC-Russia) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK did not attend any of the Joint Committees (except that for EU/Greenland) listed in these questions as we have no fishing interests in these waters. Records about these meetings are not held by my Department. The meeting of the EU/Greenland Joint Committee took place on 12 December 2005. The UK was represented by DEFRA officials. UK officials also attended negotiations of the EU/Morocco and EU/Senegal agreements during our presidency of the EU.

EU Packaging Directive

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the UK packaging business recovery and recycling targets for all materials were achieved in 2004; whether she expects the UK to meet EU packaging directive targets for 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK met the glass, paper and wood interim business recycling targets in 2004, but narrowly missed the metals (by 0.1 per cent. each) and plastic (by 0.7 per cent.) targets.
	The level of achievement attained in 2004 demonstrates that the UK is making good progress towards meeting the next packaging directive targets in 2008 and while the targets are challenging for the UK they are achievable.

EU Packaging Directive

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to increase the collection of packaging waste from households to meet the EU packaging directive targets for 2008;
	(2)  whether (a) local authorities and (b) producers are responsible for the collection and recovery of packaging within household waste.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities have a duty to collect any household waste and to meet individual Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting of household waste. Each authority is free to choose the range of materials it collects to meet its target.
	In addition, the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 requires waste collection authorities-subject to certain exemptions-to provide a kerbside collection service of at least two recyclable materials by 2010.
	However, the Department has also put in place the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005, the Packaging Regulations" which place obligations on businesses to recover and recycle packaging waste. As the packaging waste recycling targets, set in the regulations, increase between now and 2008 it is expected that producers will have to ensure that more packaging waste is extracted from the household waste stream for recycling. Producers will therefore need to work with local authorities e.g. through their packaging compliance schemes and/or accredited reprocessors/exporters, to ensure that packaging materials can be collected by local authorities for recycling, e.g. by co-financing such collections. This is particularly so where producers' needs extend beyond the local authorities' own recycling obligations.

Fisheries

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she expects the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take at the meeting on 19 December to support the European Commission's proposed emergency measures to close the deep water gill net fishery off the west coast of Scotland.

Ben Bradshaw: The Agriculture and Fisheries Council agreed to ban the use of fixed netting in deep waters to the west of the British Isles in 2006 with effect from 1 February. The Council also agreed on the need to improve knowledge of the effects of these fisheries and agree that measures to regulate these fisheries should be considered in the light of further scientific advice from the Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries.

Fixed Penalty Notices

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fixed penalty notices have been issued for (a) graffiti, (b) fly-posting and (c) dog fouling in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: The power to issue fixed penalties for both graffiti and fly-posting offences commenced in April 2004.
	
		
			  Graffiti Fly-posting Dog fouling 
		
		
			 2001–02 — — 2,461 
			 2002–03 — — 2,036 
			 2003–04 — — 2,742 
			 2004–05 19 57 2,329

Home Inspection Packs (Contaminated Land)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place inthe Library a copy of the note produced by her Department's Contaminated Land branch on the Council of Property Search Organisations' proposals for a contaminated land report to be included in home inspection packs.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2380W.

Fly-tipping

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) incidents of fly-tipping were reported and (b) prosecutions were made as a result in (i) the Ruislip-Northwood constituency and (ii) the London borough of Hillingdon in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has worked with the Environment Agency to establish Flycapture, the national database on fly-tipping, which has been operational since April 2004. No national data were previously available on illegal waste disposal or fly-tipping.
	Flycapture collects data at local authority level only. The data are probably also an underestimate and are likely to increase as local authorities improve their collection and reporting of the data.
	The London borough of Hillingdon and the Environment Agency have reported the following data to Flycapture:
	
		
			 Number of incidents London borough of Hillingdon Environment agency 
		
		
			 April 2004 to March 2005 (2)2,128 11 
			 April 2005 to November 2005 (3)1,673 4 
			
			 Number of prosecutions(4)   
			 April 2004 to March 2005 11 2 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 (5)6 (5)2 
		
	
	(2)Average 177 per month.
	(3)Average 209 per month.
	(4)Data are incomplete.
	(5)To date.

Greenhouse Gases

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the UK Government have proposed to help developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 January 2006
	The United Kingdom Government has proposed to help developing countries to reduce emissions through a number of different activities. Highlights so far include:
	Consolidated support for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Defra will be providing a further £2.5 million pounds per year in 2006–07 and 2007–08. In addition, the FCO will be providing funding of £1 million in 2006–07 and 2007–08 giving a total of £6 million from the UK over the coming two years.
	Dialogues with Latin America and China on low carbon investment strategies are under way.
	The UK is at the fore of the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change and is leading the near-Zero Emissions Coal (nZEC) project with China. The nZEC proposal was announced at the EU-China Summit on 5 September.
	The nZEC project aims to demonstrate coal-fired power generation with carbon capture and storage technology in China by 2020. The technology has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 90 per cent. This is in recognition that carbon dioxide emissions from China's increasing coal use are set to double by 2030.
	We have just signed an agreement with the Chinese Government to take this work forward (21 December 2005). The signing of the UK-China MoU is a significant milestone under the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change and a high profile achievement for the UK's Presidency of the EU.
	The UK actively promotes use of the Clean Development Mechanisms (COM) and COM related investments:
	The UK in its capacity of Presidency of the EU negotiated a package of measures for strengthened COM in Montreal; these include significant institutional and financial measures to improve the transparency and efficiency of the approval process. In particular following COP11 and COP/MOP1 some $8.8 million in additional funding has been agreed for administrative expenses of the Clean Development Mechanism (COM) in 2006—more this year than in the previous four years of operation. The UK is a major contributor, and will contribute $740,000 this coming year.
	The United Kingdom is also at the fore of the EU-lndia Initiative on Clean Development and Climate Change, with the aim of promoting cleaner technologies and their use.
	During the early part of 2006 we are aiming to agree the Terms of Reference for the Technology Development and Transfer Study and we are hopeful that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, may be able to formally launch the project on her visit in March.
	Elsewhere, the UK supports research, which will help developing countries deal with climate change. Current research includes an assessment of how to improve climate modelling and monitoring for Africa, and two separate investigations into the impacts of climate change on Chinese and Indian agriculture.

Illegal Trade (Wildlife)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  with which internet service providers the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit has held discussions on the illegal trade in wildlife; when these discussions took place; and what assessment she has made of the steps taken by internet service providers to combat such trades;
	(2)  which internet service providers have made commitments to the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit to combat the illegal trade in endangered species;
	(3)  what commitment the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit has received from e-Bay about combating the illegal trade in endangered species on its website.

Jim Knight: Details of the relationships between the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit and internet service providers (including individual websites such as e-Bay) are confidential and I am unable to provide any detailed information. I agree with the hon. Member that this is an important issue. But discussions are taking place, and progress is being made.

Live Animal Exports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the (a) National Farmers Union, (b) Farmers Union of Wales and (c) National Sheep Association on re-started live exports of sheep and cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra Ministers have had a number of discussions with various organisations on this subject.

Nappies

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental effects of disposing of disposable nappies in landfill.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency's recently published 'Life Cycle Assessment' has helped to provide an understanding of the environmental impact of disposables and the traditional type of re-usable nappy. The main conclusion of the study is that the overall environmental impact of disposable and reusable nappies is similar.
	From a waste management perspective, Government's view is that a reduction in the use of disposable nappies is one of many ways, which will help the UK to meet tough EU landfill directive targets.

Open Country

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to amend the definition of open country in section 1(2) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to include coastal land.

Jim Knight: We are aiming for public consultation on this issue in October 2006.

Pet Fairs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to ban pet fairs.

Ben Bradshaw: We have been in contact with interested parties, both for and against the banning of pet fairs, in order to prepare proposals in relation to these events. We have now had an opportunity to consider the responses to this first consultation and our proposal to license pet fairs is detailed in a Regulatory Impact Assessment which DEFRA published alongside the Animal Welfare Bill. We also intend to undertake a wider public consultation before any legislation in this area is finally introduced.

Piers and Harbour Order (Bembridge Harbour) Confirmation Act 1963

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what decisions have been (a) sought and (b) obtained from her Department and its predecessors since 1997 under the Piers and Harbour Order (Bembridge Harbour) Confirmation Act 1963.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 9 January 2006
	As the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minster of State for the Department of Transport on 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2315W, explained, responsibility for granting consents under various local harbours legislation where the approval of the Secretary of State is required, was transferred to this Department with effect from 1 October 2004.
	The Department's Marine Consents and Environment Unit has no record of any application for consent, or of any approvals being given, under the Piers and Harbour Order (Bembridge Harbour) Confirmation Act 1963 since that date.

Racehorses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has held with (a) animal welfare organisations, (b) the Jockey Club and (c) others, about the whipping of racehorses.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not held any recent discussions with animal welfare organisations, the Jockey Club or others about the whipping of racehorses.

Racehorses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the animal welfare implications of the whipping of racehorses; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not evaluated or commissioned any studies on the animal welfare implications of the whipping of racehorses.
	Any person or organisation may initiate proceedings under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, where there is reason to believe that unnecessary suffering has been caused to a racehorse.

Ragwort Control Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the Ragwort Control Act 2003.

Jim Knight: The central part of the Ragwort Control Act is the publication of a code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. The code was published in July 2004 and provides comprehensive guidance on how to develop a cost-effective and strategic approach to weed control. It includes advice on the identification of Common Ragwort, risk assessment and priorities for control, the suitability and efficacy of control methods, environmental considerations and health and safety issues. The code of practice aims to reduce the risk of ragwort poisoning in horses and other livestock. It has been made widely available to individual land managers and also land owning institutions, such as local authorities.
	The code of practice provides a yardstick against which compliance with an enforcement notice served under the Weeds Act 1959 can be measured. Together with Defra's revised procedures for investigating complaints about injurious weeds, the code of practice has enable Defra to make better use of the statutory measures available under the Weeds Act. In 2005, 69 enforcement notices were issued. Prior to the introduction of the code and the revised procedures, enforcement notices were rarely issued, if ever.

Sustainable Development

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure maximum recycling of (a) Christmas wrapping paper and (b) Christmas trees.

Ben Bradshaw: Support for local authorities who wish to run a Christmas recycling scheme is provided through the Waste and Resources Action programme's (WRAP) 'Recycle Now' campaign, funded by Defra. The support includes the use of artwork, advertising templates and PR materials.
	The WRAP website also provides advice to members of the public on how to reduce/recycle waste, including cards, wrapping paper, trees and food, arising from Christmas.

Tuberculosis Test

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what appeal procedures are in place against the results of the tuberculosis test when a vet makes an error in administering the test. [R]

Ben Bradshaw: Testing, techniques and methods of interpretation are tightly prescribed in EU law. To prevent errors, rigorous training procedures are in place for those authorised to carry out bovine tuberculosis testing work. Any errors in administering the test would be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Tuberculosis Test

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances her Department would not approve the use of a private tuberculin test; and in how many cases the use of such a test has been refused in the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: In the case of statutory tuberculin testing of cattle, any request to release tuberculin for a further private test will always be declined by the Department. Approval for private tests is generally granted in the context of a test for purchaser assurance, or as a condition for cattle export in herds not subjected to tuberculosis restrictions.
	Information on the number of applications for private tests rejected by the state veterinary service is not held by the Department.

Tuberculosis Test

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to introduce polymerase chain reaction testing to reinforce the tuberculosis test in cases where reactors are found.

Ben Bradshaw: We are continuing to fund projects at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to develop methods (including polymerase chain reaction-PCR) for detecting Mycobacterium bovis in clinical samples. PCR methods potentially offer extra flexibility and speed in confirming M. Bovis in post-mortem cattle samples. So far, however, PCR has not shown itself to be superior in terms of sensitivity, specificity or overall reliability to conventional culture.
	At present it is unrealistic to consider PCR methods as a viable alternative to the existing primary surveillance tool for TB in live cattle (i.e. the tuberculin skin test) or to other ancillary ante-mortem tests that are used when skin test reactors are found.

Tuberculosis Test

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons her Department does not use the gamma interferon test to support tuberculosis tests.

Ben Bradshaw: The use of the tuberculin skin test and the gamma interferon blood test in parallel has the potential to significantly increase the detection of infected cattle in herds where TB has been confirmed. Defra does use the gamma interferon test in identified problem TB herds at a rate of about 6,000 animal tests a year. EU legislation allows the blood test only to be used to supplement the skin test.
	Preparations are now being made for wider use of the gamma interferon test, in prescribed circumstances. A working group has been established to prepare and deliver a policy for increased use of the test.

Waste Management

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will exclude tallow from the waste incineration directive.

Ben Bradshaw: If the tallow concerned is waste as defined by the waste framework directive, it does not lie within the competence of any member state of the European Union unilaterally to exclude its incineration or co-incineration from the scope of the waste incineration directive.

Waste Management

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of household charges for waste collection as a method of increasing participation in recycling.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's work on variable household charging and household incentives for wasterecycling and reduction is based on the body of existing, publicly available, research, supplemented by investigation into specific examples of such activity and by specially commissioned research and pilot schemes on household incentives in England.

Waste Management

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she will be taking to ensure (a) packaging producers and (b) compliance schemes contribute appropriately to meeting UK packaging waste recycling targets each year.

Ben Bradshaw: Packaging producers already have legal obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste each year based on the amount of packaging that goes through their business. A producer will be committing an offence if he fails to discharge his obligations under these regulations. However, producers may join compliance schemes, which take on the producers' legal obligations to recover and recycle packaging waste.

Water Consumption

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the changes have been in water consumption since 1980, broken down by sewerage company service areas.

Elliot Morley: The earliest figures we hold for average household water consumption are for 1995–96. The following table shows water company estimates of average daily household consumption in litres per head per day for 1995–96 and 2004–05. Further details are contained in the Ofwat 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  1995–96 2004–05 
		
		
			 Anglian 152 143 
			 Bournemouth and West Hants 178 167 
			 Bristol 160 153 
			 Cambridge 152 148 
			 Dee Valley 160 145 
			 Dwr Cymru 150 151 
			 Folkestone and Dover 167 159 
			 Mid Kent 166 167 
			 Northumbrian North 148 146 
			 Northumbrian South 171 158 
			 Portsmouth 170 159 
			 Severn Trent 140 132 
			 South East 181 173 
			 South Staffordshire 146 146 
			 South West 161 161 
			 Southern 160 157 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 183 173 
			 Tendring Hundred 148 125 
			 Thames 158 159 
			 Three Valleys 177 178 
			 United Utilities 142 142 
			 Wessex 148 146 
			 Yorkshire 137 145 
			 Industry average 152 150

Whaling (Japan)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that Japan is aware of the UK's views on its increased scientific whaling within the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK Government, in common with those of a majority of International Whaling Commission (IWC) members, has regularly criticised Japanese scientific whaling programmes in both the North Pacific (JARPN) and the Southern Ocean (JARPA) as being of little scientific value and urged Japan to terminate them forthwith.
	Prior to last year's annual meeting of the IWC (IWC57), the UK participated in an Australian led demarche of 18 countries objecting to Japan's proposed expansion of JARPA. This drew attention to a draft IWC Resolution Proposed by Australia and co-sponsored by the UK, which was subsequently adopted during IWC57; this resolution urges the Government of Japan to revise its JARPA II scientific whaling programme so that any information needed to meet scientific objectives is obtained using non-lethal means.
	I issued a press notice on 11 November urging Japan not to proceed with their JARPA II programme. The statement condemned the Japanese plans in the Antarctic stating that
	Japan is flying in the face of world opinion"
	and that
	This slaughter has little or no basis in science".
	Later this month the UK and a number of other countries will take high level diplomatic action in Tokyo protesting in the strongest possible terms our objection to the continuation of their whaling activities.

Wildlife Rescue Centres

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support herDepartment makes available to wildlife rescue centres.

Jim Knight: Defra does not fund individual wildlife rescue centres.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Archiving

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  if the Commission will take steps to establish a searchable archive on the parliamentary (a) intranet and (b) internet of the (i) meetings of (A)Standing Committees and (B) Select Committees and (ii) Sittings of the House that were webcast in each of the last three sessions of Parliament; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the meetings of (a) standing and (b) Select Committees that were webcast in the last session of Parliament for which information is available.

Nick Harvey: Since January 2004 the webcasting service has provided audio-coverage of all Select and Standing Committee meetings which are not televised but which are being held in public, as well as of televised meetings. Ignoring the period between the general election and the summer recess, an average of 26 Commons Committees, five Lords Committees and two Joint Committees have been webcast each week in the current session. Of these, an average of 10 Commons Committees and one Lords Committee are webcast as television"; the rest are webcast as audio. A full list could be compiled only at disproportionate expense.
	www.parliamentlive.tv offers an online, on-demand searchable archive of coverage of all meetings which have been webcast" over the internet and intranet for two weeks following transmission. Webcast committee coverage which has been televised is then held by the Parliamentary Recording Unit indefinitely and can be made available on request in a number of modern formats, including online. The business case currently being prepared for a radical redesign of the parliamentary website will include options for improvements to the accessibility of audio and video material.

E-mail

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1) what restrictions apply to (a) individuals and (b) pressure groups and other organisations e-mailing hon. Members at their parliamentary e-mail accounts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (SI 2426) will apply to pressure groups wishing to e-mail all hon. Members at their parliamentary e-mail accounts; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: PICT delete all known SPAM e-mail" from incoming messages and known scams" directed at Members. No attempt is made to filter e-mail beyond this. Members can make local arrangements to identify and block known senders of unwanted e-mail on an individual basis.
	The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 prohibit use of unsolicited electronic mail for the purposes of direct marketing, except when it is with the recipient's consent. The remedies for those in receipt of such electronic mail are set out in the regulations.

Medical Facilities

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for NorthDevon, representing the House of Commons Commission what medical facilities are available in the Palace of Westminster for (a) hon. Members' staff, (b) hon. Members and (c) visitors to the Palace; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Within the Palace of Westminster itself, a practice nurse is available from 9 am to 5 pm at the medical suite located in the lower waiting hall, offering health advice and a minor treatment service. These services are available to all passholders. The practice nurse also assists with medical emergencies and cases of ill health whether they involve passholders or visitors to the Palace.
	There are approximately 180 qualified first aiders across the parliamentary estate (including security personnel and staff from both Houses), of whom around 80 are trained defibrillator operators. Appropriately trained staff have access to an Epipen for emergency use in cases of anaphylactic shock.
	The parliamentary Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service (OHSWS) offers a range of services, including medical screening for Members. Further details can be found on the parliamentary intranet at http://dfaweb.parliament.uk/members/medservs/medical. htm.Information, brochures and leaflets are available from OHSWS and information packs were distributed to all Members and Peers following the 2005 summer recess.

Parliamentary Book Shop

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether it is possible for members of the public to order non-parliamentary publications from the Parliamentary Book Shop; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Non-parliamentary publications published by the official publisher, The Stationery Office Limited, are available for sale from the Parliamentary Bookshop, or can be ordered if not in stock. But those documents classified as non-parliamentary publications which are items available free of charge from originating Government Departments and agencies or solely via download from their websites are not sold in the Parliamentary Bookshop.

Parliamentary Information Management System

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on the progress of the Parliamentary Information Management System project.

Nick Harvey: The PIMS project's aims were to provide easy access to parliamentary information for all users of the parliamentary intranet, by creating a new infrastructure for the storage, search, retrieval and management of parliamentary information held in the two Libraries. This would replace and extend the POLIS databases that had been used by the two Libraries for over 20 years, and provide a platform on which the services available to Members of both Houses of Parliament and the public might be developed further.
	The first services went live in December 2004 supporting Commons Library inquiry handling. The main services came on stream in April 2005 with facilities for search and retrieval of material and content management. There were some initial difficulties with maintaining the currency of information in the system, and a programme of technical changes designed to improve performance was put in place and completed in November 2005. Further enhancements are to be made over the next few months before the project concludes in the spring of 2006.
	A separate project is also under way to develop the parliamentary intranet building on the PIMS technology infrastructure. In addition, a business case is being prepared for a radical redesign of the Parliament website.

Postage Costs

Sarah Teather: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many hon. Members have had to pay back postage costs to the House in each of the last five years.

Nick Harvey: It is not possible to separate the figures for postage and stationery, as repayments may cover both. The number of Members repaying the House, either on their own initiative or following a request from the House authorities, for the use of either stationery or postage in each of the past four years for which there are reliable records is as follows;
	
		
			  Number of Members 
		
		
			 2002 29 
			 2003 30 
			 2004 34 
			 2005 34

Strategic Plan

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  when the Strategic Plan for the House of Commons Administration was last updated; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the progress of each of the four core tasks set out on page 61 of HC 65; whatdiscussions he has had with stakeholders about implementation of each of the four core tasks; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with stakeholders about implementation of Objective (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 in the Corporate Business Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: A new outline Strategic Plan, covering the period 2006 to 2011 was agreed by the Commission in July 2005. The text is available via the Commission's intranet and internet pages. This new plan confirms that the primary purpose of the House Service is to enable the House and its Members to perform their parliamentary duties effectively. Beyond this it has a duty to promote public understanding of Parliament's work and role through the provision of information and access. The plan also sets out six priority areas for the period 2006 to 2011: accommodation and works, human resources, information for the public, information management and ICT, planning and management and security. For each of these areas the board of management has developed a detailed statement of its aims for the planning period. These have been incorporated in the 2006 Corporate Business Plan.
	The previous strategic plan identified four on-going core tasks and eight developmental objectives for the period covered by the plan: 2001–02 to 2005–06. Pages 15–48 of the 2004–05 Commission Annual Report [HC65 2005–06] provide a description of performance against each of the core tasks. A further statement on performance will be provided in the 2005–06 Annual Report. The views of Members and other stakeholders on the implementation of elements of both the core tasks and the development objectives have been expressed in a number of ways, including reports and advice from the Administration Committee and its predecessors in the last Parliament and the Modernisation Committee, and the 2003 Survey of Services. It is anticipated that a further survey of services will be conducted during the current Parliament.
	Furthermore, there have been three hour debates in Westminster Hall on each of the two most recent annual reports, in December 2004 and November 2005, and the Commission hopes that this pattern of annual debate will continue.

Vote Bundle

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for NorthDevon, representing the House of Commons Commission how (a) members of the public and (b) public libraries may purchase the vote bundle; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Members of the public and public libraries may purchase the vote bundle from the official distributor of parliamentary and Government publications, The Stationery Office Ltd., or from the Parliamentary Bookshop. Public libraries qualify for a subsidy on their purchases under the Government's public library access scheme.

Vote Bundle

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the retail cost of the vote bundle is per printed page; and what the retail cost per page was in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2004.

Nick Harvey: The current retail cost of the vote bundle per printed page is 18p and has been held at that price since before 1997.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the deployment of additional British troops to Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 14 November 2005, Official Report, column41WS.
	A statement will be made to the House should the United Kingdom decide to commit additional forces to the international security assistance force (ISAF) in 2006.

Armed MOD Police

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the (a) training programme and (b) rules of engagement for armed MOD police who guard (i) Aldermaston, (ii) Faslane and (iii) other UK departmental sites; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The training programme for all Ministry of Defence police (MDP) firearms officers follows the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum that was introduced in February 2004. The curriculum identifies the training that should be delivered to firearms officers and was introduced by the code of practice on 'Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons'. Officers in Nuclear Guarding roles receive additional training to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Defence Joint service Publication 440 'Defence Manual of Security'.
	MDP do not operate under 'Rules of Engagement' but are governed by the law relating to the use of force, as are all other UK police forces. The law is contained within:
	Section 3 Criminal Law Act 1967 and Section 3 Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967
	Section 117 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and Article 88 Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
	Common Law
	Human Rights Act, 1998
	The four types of legislation listed apply to MOD police who guard Aldermaston, Faslane and other UK departmental sites.

British Base, Cyprus

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service men and women are stationed in Cyprus.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to Tri Service Publication 6, Global Location of UK Regular Forces (TSP 6). This shows that as at 1 October 2005, there were 3,090 UK Regular Service Personnel posted to Cyprus.
	Copies of TSP 6 are held in the Library of the House and also available on www.dasa.mod.uk

Civilian Detainees

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British civilian detainees of the Japanese did not receive the compensation because they had no blood link with the UK; and what estimate he has made of the cost of including them in the scheme.

Don Touhig: Until the Ministry of Defence has completed the review that I outlined in my statement to the House on 12 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1119–28) I am unable to provide this information. I hope to make a further statement, on the outcome of the review, in February.

Courts Martial

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2202W, on courts martial, what role Private Gary Bartlam's commanding officer played in the process that led to the reduction of Private Bartlam's statement.

Adam Ingram: The decision to reduce Private Bartlam's sentence was made by the Army Reviewing Authority and the Court Martial Appeal Court in the High Court. The commanding officer played no part in this process.

Decorations/Payments

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hendon residents are (a) eligible for and (b) have received (i) the Veterans' Badge, (ii) the Suez Campaign Clasp, (iii) the Arctic Convoy Badge and (iv) ex-gratia payments as former Far East Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: We do not have the information required to establish how many residents of Hendon might fulfil the eligibility criteria for the Armed Forces Veterans' Badge, the General Service Medal Suez Canal Zone Clasp, the Arctic Convoy Emblem and ex-gratia payments as former Far East Prisoners of War or Civilian Internees.
	The veterans' badge scheme was launched in May 2004 and since April 2005 11 residents from Hendon have applied for and received the badge. There are no accurate records of geographical issue available before April 2005.
	The first General Service Medal Suez Canal Zone Clasp was issued around October 2003 and it is estimated that some 42,250 had been issued by 30 December 2005. Records are not maintained of the geographical issue of these clasps.
	Production and issue of the Arctic Convoy Emblem has not yet started.
	The Veterans Agency has received four claims from Hendon residents for an ex-gratia payment under the scheme for former Far East Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees. Two claims have been paid and two rejected.

Departmental IT Equipment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) laptops and (b) mobile phones his Department bought in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each category of equipment was in each year.

Don Touhig: Information on the number and cost of laptop computers bought in each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information relating to the number and cost of mobile telephones is only available from 1999:
	
		£ million
		
			  Number Spend (ex VAT) 
		
		
			 1999 6,656 2.64 
			 2000 8,964 2.66 
			 2001 10,958 2.37 
			 2002 13,808 3.40 
			 2003 17,084 3.96 
			 2004 22,029 3.98 
			 2005 24,800 4.74 
		
	
	There are a small number of local agreements in place for which information is not available.

Illegal Drugs (RN Seizures)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 557, on illegal drugs (RN seizures), when he expects to be able to supply the remaining information.

Adam Ingram: Most of the hurricane damage at the Joint Inter Agency Task Force South (JIATFS) in Key West, Florida, has now been repaired and I expect to be able to provide as much further information as is held by the JIATFS to the hon. Member by the end of this month.

Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Mayne

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will award a posthumous Victoria Cross to Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Mayne; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: In 1946 the Government reviewed all actions and campaigns that took place during world war two and decided that after this date no further awards would be made. This remains the case to this day, and it would be impossible to second guess the decisions made by military commanders at the time. For that reason it is not possible to make a posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Mayne.
	None of this lessens our appreciation for Lieutenant-Colonel Mayne's actions at the time, which were recognised with the award of a fourth Distinguished Service Order.

Maladministration

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects to answer question 32240 tabled by the hon. Member for Yeovil on 24 November 2005.

Don Touhig: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Medals

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencehow many General Service Medal Suez Canal Zone clasps for the period 16 October 1951 to 19 October 1954 have been issued; how many applications have still to be processed; on what date the first clasp was issued; and when he expects that the final award will be made.

Don Touhig: As at 30.December 2005, some 42,250 General Service Medal Suez Canal Zone clasps had been issued. A further 758 applications were waiting to be processed. The first clasp was issued in October 2003.
	It is likely that a small number of applications from veterans or their relatives will continue to be received for many years to come.
	While this means that it is impossible to predict when the final award will be made, the applications currently outstanding should be processed within two months.

Met Office

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many responses his Department received to the Met Office consultation about proposals to change its civil centre forecast production network; and how many responses were received from each UK political party.

Don Touhig: The Met Office received 166 responses to the consultation about proposals to change its civil forecast production network. Of these responses, 33 were from the Labour party, 20 from the Liberal Democrats, nine from the Conservatives, 12 from the Scottish National party and nine from the Democratic Unionist party.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times he has visited (a) Dacorum and (b) Hertfordshire in his official capacity in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, in his former role as Secretary of State for Defence, opened the new MBDA facility in Stevenage on 6 April 2005. My noble Friend Lord Bach, the former Minister for Defence Procurement, visited Paradigm in Stevenage on 22 March 2005.
	Since the General Election no Defence Ministers have visited the borough of Dacorum or the County of Hertfordshire.

Office Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) his Department, (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) Executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3)each English region and (4) Northern Ireland owned in (x) 2003–04 and (y) 2004–05.

Don Touhig: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Reserve Forces

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many appeals against compulsory mobilisation under the Reserve Forces Act have been made in the last 12 months; and how many were successful.

Don Touhig: As at 11 January 2006, there has been one appeal made by a Reservist in the last 12 months against compulsory mobilisation under the Reserve Forces Act 1996. This was subsequently withdrawn.

Royal Flight

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  who is allowed to use the resources of the Royal Flight; on what criteria eligibility is based; and whether he has plans to alter these criteria;
	(2)  what plans he has for the future of the Royal Flight.

John Reid: No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, based at RAF Northolt, is established for the support of military and government communications tasks in times of crisis and war. The Royal Household, Government Ministers and senior military officers may use irreducible spare capacity within this communications fleet when the aircraft are not being used to support named military operations or training. Such tasking is allocated according to seniority.
	It is planned to replace the three commercially owned-RAF operated Twin-Squirrel Helicopters which form part of the fleet with three Agusta 109 Power helicopters under similar contractual arrangements in April.
	Furthermore, an Independent Review of Royal Family and Ministerial Air Travel headed by Sir Peter Gershon is currently under way.

Royal Navy (Surface Fleet)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Royal Navy's surface fleet is (a) at sea and (b) available to put to sea at a week's notice.

Adam Ingram: On 12 January 2006, of the total commissioned Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, 32 per cent. were at sea. A further 58 per cent. could put to sea at one week's notice.

Troubles (Northern Ireland)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of deaths in the recent period of the troubles in Northern Ireland that have been caused by armed forces personnel; and whether he intends to re-open investigations into these cases.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 November 2005
	The attribution of deaths in Northern Ireland is not a matter for the Ministry of Defence and it is for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to decide if they are to re-open investigations into deaths in Northern Ireland during the troubles.

UK-awarded Contracts

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department permits participation in UK-awarded contracts by firms that have engaged in activities that violate international humanitarian law.

Adam Ingram: Violation of international humanitarian law is in law a matter of state culpability rather than of firms or companies. In awarding contracts, the Ministry of Defence's policy is to assess tenders against a number of criteria to evaluate the most suitable compliant tender providing value for money. A contract may not be placed with a company if there are reasonable doubts about its suitability.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Birth Control

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research projects on (a) abortion, (b) contraception, (c) reproductive health and (d) the effects of coercive abortion on women have been commissioned by his Department in each of the last five years for which information is available; and what the publication arrangements were in each case.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has not explicitly commissioned work on abortion , contraception and the effects of coercive abortion but we have commissioned five major Research Knowledge Programmes in the broad area of reproductive health for the period 1999–2005 for a total commitment of £10.6 million; (2000–01 £1 million; 2001–02 £1.9 million; 2002–03 £1.7 million; 2003–04 £2 million and 2004–05 £1.9 million). All of the programmes involve numerous research activities and smaller projects in Reproductive, Maternal and Sexual Health.
	In 2005, DFID commissioned two research programme consortia for the period 2005–10 for a total of £5 million. The consortia involve a number of different research activities in the broad areas of sexual reproductive health and rights and sexual reproductive health and HIV.
	The aim of all of the programmes is to provide research that leads to better quality and a wider range of reproductive health services in developing countries.
	Publication of material resulting from the programmes in appropriate journals, and other media, is the responsibility of the researchers.
	Support is also provided to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the World Health Organisation Human Reproductive Health Programme and the UK's Medical Research Council.

Disaster Management

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department has undertaken to facilitate the exchange of disaster management expertise between the United Kingdom and each country affected by Hurricane (a) Ivan and (b) Emily.

Gareth Thomas: The three countries most seriously affected by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, were Grenada, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. In Grenada, we funded the provision of disaster management experts from Christian Aid UK and Oxfam UK, who worked closely on emergency projects with regional and local partners. For Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the UK Government sent two humanitarian advisers to the region who provided initial emergency support to the relief efforts. The UK also funded Oxfam UK and Save the Children UK to send disaster management experts to Jamaica. Using this close network of partnerships helped in the exchange of disaster management expertise between the countries.
	For the duration of the 2005 Hurricane season, DFID placed a Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser in the region based in Barbados. The Adviser liaised with and provided advice to regional agencies and other development partners dealing with Disaster Risk Reduction and the continuing response to Hurricane Ivan. He also provided input to the two Caribbean Regional Donor groups for disaster coordination and response.
	Following Hurricane Emily in July 2005, the Adviser visited Grenada and the island of Carriacou, to assess the damage and provide advice on the appropriate international response. This arrangement for the placing of UK expertise in the region will continue during the 2006 hurricane season.
	The UK also funds a full-time Disaster Risk Reduction adviser to the Caribbean Overseas Territories. This Adviser provides ongoing expertise to these countries to strengthen and improve their disaster preparedness. He visited the Cayman Islands in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan to advise on recovery planning.
	At the regional level, after Hurricane Ivan the UK funded a technical review of hazard impacts and their effects on the built environment. DFID also contributed to the studies of the 2004 Hurricane season that underpinned the regional lesson learning conference held in Jamaica in April 2005.

HIV/AIDS

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department will provide in the next two years to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is supporting programmes to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Central Asia, Ukraine and Russia. Details of commitments are as follows:
	Central Asia:
	DFID is providing £5.4 million over four years (2005–09) for a Central Asia Regional HIV/AIDS Programme, operating in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The Programme will complement the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional HIV/AIDS projects in supporting the implementation of government strategies.
	As part of the above work, DFID is also providing £1 million for the World Bank's Central Asia Regional HIV/AIDS Programme and £420,000 for the salaries of a Regional Policy Advisor and a Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor in the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) office in Almaty.
	Ukraine:
	DFID is providing £300,000 from May 2005 to May 2007, in support of the UNAIDS work with the Government of Ukraine to improve co-ordination of HIV/AIDS interventions. In addition DFID is providing 65,000. from September 2004 to September 2006, to support the work of the non-government Substance Abuse and AIDS Support Fund and to provide technical support to the UN Global Fund.
	DFID has also provided £25,000 in August 2004 for an HIV/AIDS harm reduction awareness campaign in Crimea and £350,000 from September 2004 to September 2005 for work with the Ministry of Education to highlight HIV/AIDS issues in schools and among young people.
	Russia:
	DFID is providing £74,000 over 2006–07, comprising: (i) £22,000 in support of UNAIDS work with the Government of Russia; (ii) £47,000 to support a regional response to tackling HIV/AIDS in Nizhny Novgorod and (iii) £50,000 to disseminate findings from previous DFID funded research to help inform the Government of Russia's policies for tackling HIV/AIDS.

Horn of Africa

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the food situation in the Horn of Africa.

Hilary Benn: Poor rains in much of the Horn of Africa at the end of 2005 have left many communities who are dependent on farming and raising livestock in serious difficulties. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has issued a report saying that as many as 11 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti may require assistance in 2006. The severe food shortages in parts of these countries is sadly not a new phenomenon, and DFID has been responding with humanitarian assistance for many years. We are aware of the particular threat this year, the possibility that the current crisis may deepen, and that other areas may come to be affected.
	DFID humanitarian advisers visited the worst affected areas in Kenya in November 2005, and visits to Somalia and Ethiopia are planned for early 2006.
	This month DFID contributed £1 million to the World Food Programme for Somalia on top of the over £5 million we spent there on humanitarian interventions in 2005. This includes a number of health and nutrition operations in the worst affected parts of Southern Somalia.
	In Ethiopia DFID made a commitment of £43 million in March 2005 to the cash and food aid based Productive Safety Net programme. This programme provides assistance to some of the poorest communities in Ethiopia. In December 2005 we announced a further £2.7 million for Kenya in response to the situation there.
	DFID will continue to monitor the situation closely and we stand ready to provide additional support if necessary.

Hurricane Ivan

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with representatives of (a) the Government of Grenada and (b) the Government of the Cayman Islands concerning reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Ivan; and what funding his Department has (i) committed to these efforts and (ii) made available todate.

Gareth Thomas: Since Hurricane Ivan, DFID has remained closely engaged with the Government of Grenada. By December 2004, DFID had committed and fully disbursed £6.5 million of emergency assistance: £1 million was provided as emergency humanitarian support through partner agencies; £5.5 million was provided as emergency financial aid to help the Government meet their public sector salary obligations. In 2005, DFID committed a total of £325,000 to provide consultancy support in the forestry sector, a chartered surveyor to assess the damage done to the Governor-General's compound and the Parliament Buildings. With the US Agency for International Development, DFID co-financed debt advisers to develop proposals for the restructuring of Grenada's debt. In addition, our share of the European Commission humanitarian support and additional reconstruction funds was £1.18 million.
	Most recently, both my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Prime Minister, met Prime Minister Keith Mitchell in the lead up to and during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta in November. During a meeting with Prime Minister Mitchell in May 2005, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made it clear that DFID recognised the continuing reconstruction challenges facing Grenada, and he made a commitment that DFID would review the case for additional budget support to Grenada.
	In November 2005, following the Government of Grenada's successful debt exchange offer to creditors and their work on a home-grown economic reform programme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) judged the financing gap for 2005 to have been reduced to a limited and manageable level of about 1 per cent. of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Given this relative success we have decided not to offer further emergency financial aid to the Government of Grenada before March 2006. However, we remain open to the IMF's projections that the financial gap may widen dramatically in the next financial year and for a number of years after that, as the current construction industry boom subsides. We will continue to keep the situation under close review.
	DFID provided some £250,000 to Cayman Islands for emergency supplies and services in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. We have not provided specific assistance for reconstruction. We understand, however, that the European Union is considering a request from the Cayman Islands Government for support to rebuild homes. DFID's focus has been aimed at improving and strengthening disaster preparedness in all UK Overseas Territories in the region. In the Cayman Islands, we also funded a study of the impact of Hurricane Ivan to help learn from the Cayman Islands' experience of handling the emergency.

Jordan

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided for projects in Jordan in each of the last five years; and how much such funding is planned for the 2005–06 financial year.

Hilary Benn: Jordan is now a middle income country that receives relatively large amounts of donor funding in relation to its levels of poverty. DFID has provided bilateral funding in the form of technical co-operation (i.e. support for projects) as well as other types of bilateral funding such as humanitarian assistance and debt relief. DFID's bilateral programme with Jordan closed in September 2005. DFID also provided funding to Jordan through our contributions to multilateral organisations including the EC and the World Bank, which we will continue to do.
	
		million
		
			  Technical co-operation Total bilateral programme 
		
		
			 2000–01 4.0 6.8 
			 2001–02 2.3 6.4 
			 2002–03 2.8 4.8 
			 2003–04 1.2 4.2 
			 2004–05 3.2 5.3 
		
	
	DFID is planning to provide £1.6 million in bilateral assistance to Jordan in 2005–06.

Lawful Activities

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what activities which were lawful before 1 May 2001 have since been made unlawful by legislation introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The only legislation introduced by DFID since 1 May 2002 was the International Development Act 2002, which put furthering poverty reduction at the heart of the Secretary of State's statutory powers. Subject to this overarching objective, as defined by the Act, it did not outlaw any specific activities. The restriction in the Act over how funds voted by Parliament can be used means, for example, that aid cannot be tied to the purchase of British goods and services.

Palestinian Authority

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is giving to the Palestinian Authority (a) to ensure the efficient running of the forthcoming elections and (b) to reconstruct Gaza.

Hilary Benn: The European Union (EU) has committed €14 million to enable the Palestinian Authority (PA) to prepare for elections, 18 per cent. of which is attributable to the UK. The core elements of the EU support are:
	Assistance to the Palestinian Election Commission (€10 million);
	Technical expertise on election operations (€1 million);
	International observation of the election process (€2.5 million);
	Assistance to voter and civic education (€350,000).
	The UK Government are also assisting elections through the following projects:
	Purchase of Ballot Papers (£45,000);
	Media Monitoring of 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council Elections (£34,000);
	Training of journalists and public awareness (£90,316).
	The Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, Mr.James Wolfensohn, has identified the key issues for Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank to be an economic success for the Palestinians and to assure Israeli security. DFID is working closely with Mr. Wolfensohn's team and is providing assistance to help the PA develop a medium-term development plan—one of the key issues identified by Mr. Wolfensohn. DFID is also providing substantial financial support (£15 million in 2005–06) to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere. This assistance, provided via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), helps provide education, health, housing and social services to Palestinian refugees.

South and Central America

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to each south and central American country in each year since 1997.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided the following bilateral assistance to countries in central and south America since 1997:
	
		£
		
			 Country 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Argentine Republic 134,680 159,818 134,323 7,567 248 — — — 
			 Bolivia 4,394,934 4,262,732 6,254,949 7,509,130 124,55,178 9,267,954 7,056,854 5,401,807 
			 Brazil 7,015,501 7,476,778 6,377,947 6,519,084 6,863,875 10,093,041 69,101,54 5,027,700 
			 Chile 1,142,963 1,028,865 409,758 8 95,688 145,359 351,152 436,715 
			 Colombia 2,229,176 2,617,346 1,537,320 1,730,155 933,784 600,043 350,886 541,016 
			 Costa Rica 303,551 211,251 116,580 182,649 115,527 70,200 121,541 17,057 
			 Ecuador 1,515,036 1,099,063 748,381 540,702 275,016 363,430 192,595 158,797 
			 El Salvador 211,396 299,428 318,278 1,820,249 430,527 338,025 106,956 74,627 
			 Guatemala 403,878 478,834 370,539 318,577 419,549 289,340 236,938 196,060 
			 Guyana 5,351,023 5,846,429 9,999,846 13,821,291 12,490,518 12,080,149 17,098,065 8,770,704 
			 Honduras 1,164,920 2,580,147 1,790,996 1,373,493 1,219,649 1,180,571 910,066 959,736 
			 Mexico 4,052,209 3,794,111 2,171,981 1,538,577 511,800 560,844 70,791 96,871 
			 Nicaragua 1,010,750 1,995,860 1,153,282 636,107 612,847 1,373,255 1,029,110 1,774,679 
			 Panama 427,199 366,384 324,478 233,543 154,872 34,908 — — 
			 Paraguay 203,739 275,148 255,310 178,888 93,626 65,728 — 4,860 
			 Peru 3,961,338 3,635,181 4,392,858 4,158,829 7,998,299 3,225,252 2,807,442 3,990,316 
			 Uruguay 224,416 253,555 251,664 — — — — — 
			 Venezuela 178,596 183,764 937,524 36,311 — — — — 
		
	
	Bilateral funding is also provided through regional assistance, which benefits a number of countries in the region:
	
		
			 £ thousand 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Americas regional 1,326 1,095 897 2,570 1,529 738 808 774 
			 Central America — 10,419 1,405 855 2,407 4,373 4,407 2,860 
			 Latin America 346 853 174 218 526 1,450 1,369 1,929 
		
	
	In addition, DFID contributes through multi-lateral channels, particularly through the Inter American Development Bank, the World Bank, European Commission and the United Nations. Information on our contribution through multi-lateral channels is only available until 2003:
	
		£ million
		
			 Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Argentina 1.6 2.6 3.7 3.3 15.7 0.6 0.6 
			 Bolivia 9.4 8.6 2.4 6.6 11.7 0.8 22.8 
			 Brazil 3.1 4.6 5.7 8.9 14.2 7.6 6.7 
			 Chile 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.0 1.2 0.4 0.8 
			 Colombia 1.5 1.3 1.6 2.4 2.1 1.8 2.5 
			 Costa Rica 0.3 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 
			 Ecuador 1.1 1.6 1.3 1.2 0.8 1.1 1.3 
			 El Salvador 2.1 2.3 1.4 2.3 2.0 2.0 2.4 
			 Guatemala 3.1 3.4 3.1 3.4 2.6 3.7 2.5 
			 Guyana 2.7 1.2 0.8 1.5 1.3 0.8 5.6 
			 Honduras 5.4 5.6 5.1 4.7 12.7 1.8 6.7 
			 Mexico 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 3.0 1.2 1.0 
			 Nicaragua 6.0 10.9 6.0 10.8 10.0 3.3 21.5 
			 Panama 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 
			 Paraguay 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.3 
			 Peru 2.6 9.3 3.5 4.0 3.1 2.3 3.5 
			 Uruguay 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 
			 Venezuela 0.5 0.9 0.5 1.5 0.8 0.9 1.0

TRANSPORT

A180

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the remaining sections of the A180 in north east Lincolnshire to be resurfaced with low-noise materials; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The remaining sections of the A180 will be resurfaced with quieter materials as follows: Croxton to Ulceby in 2008–09 and Barnetby to Croxton in 2009–10 when maintenance becomes due; this is subject to the availability of funding.

Administration Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total administrative costs of his core Department were in the last period for which figures are available; and whether these are regarded as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses.

Karen Buck: The total administration costs for the core Department for Transport, as shown in Note 10 of the Resource Accounts for 2004–05 (HC 476), were £152,559,000. All of this expenditure is 'identifiable' for the purposes of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) published by the Treasury.

Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Canvey Island to assess the need for an additional access route for the island from the Northwick area; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The need for an additional access road to Canvey Island is not at present a matter for assessment by the Secretary of State but one for consideration by the local planning and transport authorities. I understand that, accordingly, Essex county council is currently progressing work looking at the feasibility of a link between Canvey and Thurrock and expects to consider the preliminary results of these investigations in the spring.

Car Exhaust Pipes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to require car manufacturers to ensure exhaust pipes on motor vehicles are fitted on the off-side; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: It would be difficult to impose legislation to require exhaust pipes to be positioned only on the off-side, bearing in mind the overall design constraints of individual vehicles, the economies of scale that would be lost and the conflict with European internal market objectives.
	The effectiveness of such a measure would also be questionable given the significant reduction in exhaust pollutants that are now being achieved from new vehicles and which are set to reduce even further as emission standards are progressively tightened.

Crime Reports (London)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes were reported to British Transport Police in each of the last five years in (a) England, (b) London, (c) each London borough and (d) each London (i) underground, (ii) mainline and (iii) interchange station in relation to (A) violence against the person, (B) sexual offences, (C) theft of passenger property and (D) robbery, broken down by gender; and whether the crime was reported by a member of (1) the public and (2) rail staff in each case.

Derek Twigg: The information has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Cycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities of pedestrians have been caused by cyclists (a) on the road, (b) on pavements and (c) off-road in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of pedestrian fatalities in personal injury road accidents who were hit by cyclists on the road for the years 2000 to 2004 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Fatalities 
		
		
			 2000 3 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 4 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 1 
		
	
	There were no pedestrian fatalities hit by a cyclist on the pavement during these years.
	We have no information on who was to blame for these accidents.
	Information on pedestrian fatalities hit by cyclists off-road is not available.

Departmental Staff

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants in his Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: The Department and its agencies have a flexible approach in helping staff meet work life balance commitments. Although the Department does not have a home working policy, other policies cover a variety of working patterns. These patterns include flexible working hours, staggered hours, part-time working and job share. In addition, requests to work from home on an ad hoc basis are subject to line agreement.
	The table provides figures where available from both the central Department and its agencies.
	
		
			  Figures 
		
		
			 DfT C (6)(5508620007)— 
			 DVLA 157 
			 HA 74 
			 MCA (7)— 
			 VOSA (7)— 
			 VGA 1 
			 GCDA (7)— 
			 DSA 2 
		
	
	(6)In the recent staff survey (DfT C only completed by 1,374 (77 per cent.) participants) revealed 838 (61 per cent.) staff members worked flexibly. Those who did work flexibly, went on to say that they worked from home once a week, 117 (14 per cent.). This however, is only an approximate figure as it is based on those who participated in the staff survey.
	(7)No central figures available

European Council

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom transport policy of the EU sustainable development strategy noted in the EU Council Communique", Part VI, on conclusion of the European Council on 15 to 16 December 2005.

Stephen Ladyman: We are currently considering the implications for United Kingdom transport policy of the Commission's proposal to review the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. This is with a view to playing a full part in the discussions that the Austrian presidency of the Council of the European Union will set-up during the first half of 2006.

Local Transport Plan (Gloucestershire)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Gloucestershire county council on its proposals for public transport in its local transport plan with particular reference to buses.

Karen Buck: The Secretary of State and other Transport Ministers have not had any meetings with Gloucestershire county council about its local transport plan. Officials based in both the central Department for Transport and the Government office for the south west have met Gloucestershire county council officials about the development of the county council's local transport plan including about the potential role of buses in it, regularly during the last two years. Officials also met a number of Gloucestershire county council's members about the plan in June 2005.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 is being resurfaced between junctions 20 and 21; how long the work will take; and what the total cost is of the work.

Stephen Ladyman: The M1 between junctions 20 and 21 is being resurfaced for safety reasons. The existing surface was reaching the end of its useful life and represented an increasing hazard to road users.
	In order to minimise traffic disruption the resurfacing is being carried out in several phases. The first phase started in July 2005 and was completed in December. The second phase started on 4 January and is due for completion in March. Other phases will follow subject to the availability of funding.
	The total cost of the first two phases is £9.8 million.

M6

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is monitoring the impact of the M6 toll on the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: No monitoring is being undertaken by the Department on the economic impact of the M6 toll as the impact of any major new infrastructure is only likely to show over a longer period. We will consider whether to make such an assessment after a period of about five years from opening.

M6

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable the Highways Agency has set for erecting the sign for Shrewsbury on the M6.

Stephen Ladyman: Negotiations are currently under way between the Highways Agency, Shropshire county council and Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council about funding for this sign. Assuming agreement is reached, the sign should be erected during the first part of the 2006–07 financial year.

Motorway Resurfacing

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used when deciding whether to resurface a motorway for the purpose of reducing tyre noise; whether such work is always held in abeyance until the road surface in question needs replacing; what the typical additional cost of such work is over normal resurfacing; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: During the assessment of the Highways Agency's Spending Review 2004 submission, Ministers agreed that the resurfacing of concrete roads ahead of maintenance need, for noise reasons, would not be allocated funding.
	The Highways Agency resurfaces sections of carriageway for the purpose of reducing tyre noise where there is a maintenance requirement, where it is required on safety grounds (due to loss of surface texture required for skid resistance in the wet), or as a result of general wear and tear caused by traffic.
	The carriageway maintenance programme is developed on a whole life cost basis, identifying the appropriate maintenance treatment at the optimum time. When resurfacing a carriageway, it is standard Highways Agency practice to use quieter surfacing materials. There is no additional cost for these materials compared with conventional surfacing materials as they can be laid quickly; therefore, the overall laying costs are a lot less.

Railways

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1150W, what mechanisms exist in the franchising process for train operating companies to ensure that an appropriate level of risk is transferred to the private sector; and what level of risk he deems appropriate.

Derek Twigg: The allocation of risk between a train operating company and the Department is governed by the franchise agreement. Following publication of the Future of Rail White Paper, extensive negotiations were undertaken with the Association of Train Operating Companies and a standard form franchise agreement was agreed having taken legal, economic, commercial and financial advice. The standard agreement reflects the optimum risk balance in the light of that that advice.

Railways

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1150W, what mechanisms exist to ensure that the tendering process for franchises of train operating companies is competitive.

Derek Twigg: The franchise replacement process follows Office of Government Commerce (OGC) procurement guidelines and is subject to review by independent OGC-appointed reviewers. Selected projects are additionally subject to annual audits.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what customer usage is on intercity rail lines; and what customer usage was in 2000.

Derek Twigg: In 2004–05, 85 million journeys were undertaken on long distance train services compared with 70 million journeys in 2000–01.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about proposals for fare increases on the Hastings to Charring Cross line; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: No representations have been received.

Railways

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends (a) to announce the outcome of the Railways for All" consultation and (b) to publish a strategy for rail accessibility.

Karen Buck: We propose to publish the strategy shortly. A summary of the consultation responses to the draft strategy document, Railways for All", will be published on the Department's website at that time.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has authorised negotiations with rail franchisees to secure agreements to invest in additional and higher quality rolling stock in return for an extension to the franchise period.

Derek Twigg: There are only two franchises in relation to which discussions on extending the franchise beyond its current term are taking place. These are Silverlink and Central Trains franchises. Increased investment in rolling stock does not form part of these discussions.

Road Accidents (Costs)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent estimated cost of a road accident resulting in (a) serious and (b) slight injuries is (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (A) lost output, (B) medical assistance and ambulance costs and (C)human costs.

Stephen Ladyman: The more recent values used to estimate the benefits of the prevention of road accidents are set out in the Highways Economic Note No. 1: 2004 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties" which can be found on the DfT website.
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_610642.hcsp
	The Highways Economics Note disaggregates the elements of the value according to whether they relate specifically to casualties or accidents. The casualty-related values are lost output, medical and ambulance costs, and human costs. The costs of police, property damage and the administrative costs of accident insurance are accident-related costs. The total value of prevention of an accident is the aggregate of both sets of values.
	The following table illustrates the average estimated costs of a road accident. Total casualty costs represent the sum of the casualty-related elements, while total value of prevention is the sum of casualty-related costs and accident-related costs.
	
		Table: Average value of prevention per accident by severity (excluding fatalities) and element of costs (£ million June 2004)
		
			  Injury severity 
			  Serious Slight 
		
		
			 Lost output 21,379 2,550 
			 Medical and ambulance 12,806 1,082 
			 Human costs 145,370 12,151 
			 Total casualty costs 179,555 15,783 
			 Total value of prevention 184,269 18,496

Road Accidents (Costs)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent estimate is of the cost of a road accident, excluding the cost of deaths and casualties, broken down by (a) police costs, (b) insurance costs and (c) costs arising from damage to property.

Stephen Ladyman: The more recent values used to estimate the benefits of the prevention of road accidents are set out in the Highways Economic Note No. 1: 2004 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties" which can be found on the DfT website.
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/paae/dft_rdsafety_610642.hcsp
	The Highways Economics Note disaggregates the elements of the value according to whether they relate specifically to casualties or accidents. The accident-related costs include costs of police and property damage and the administrative costs of accident insurance. These costs are not specific to casualties.
	The following table illustrates the average estimated costs per accident minus the casualty specific costs.
	
		Table: Average value of prevention per accident by severity and element of costs (£ million June 2004)
		
			  Injury severity 
			  Fatal Serious Slight 
		
		
			 Police costs 1,607 219 49 
			 Insurance and admin 254 158 96 
			 Damage to property 9,465 4,336 2,569 
			 Total accident costs 11,326 4,713 2,714

Road Closures (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions when the (a) A13 and (b) A127 between the M25 and Southend were closed in each direction for 30 minutes or longer during each of the last five years for which information is available; and what the (i) reason for and (ii) duration was of each such closure.

Stephen Ladyman: Only the section of A13 eastwards from M25 to its junction with the A1089 (to Tilbury) is a trunk road, for which the Secretary of State is directly responsible in his capacity as highway authority. The following table provided by the Highways Agency shows the total number of closures of 30 minutes or more for each carriageway since 2002. The precise duration of closure was recorded in only seven instances.
	The remainder of the A13, and the whole length of the A127, is the responsibility of Essex county council, Thurrock borough council and Southend-on-Sea borough council as local highway authorities for the sections of the routes in their respective areas.
	
		
			 Date Carriageway Duration Reason for Closure 
		
		
			 24 January 2002 Eastbound — Oil Spillage 
			 9 June 2002 Eastbound — Fatal Accident 
			 12 July 2002 Eastbound — Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 1 
			 30 July 2002 Eastbound — Flooding 
			 8 August 2002 E/N Slip — Oil Spillage 
			 13 August 2002 Westbound — Oil Spillage 
			 11 November 2002 Eastbound 1 hr 45 mins Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 1 
			 20 March 2003 Eastbound — Oil Spillage 
			 14 May 2003 Westbound — Vehicle Fire 
			 15 May 2003 Eastbound — Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 1 
			 6 July 2003 Westbound — Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 1 
			 14 July 2003 Westbound — Oil Spillage 
			 22 August 2003 Westbound — Vehicle Fire 
			 14 September 2003 East and West 1 hr Abandoned Vehicle/Suspected Package—Security Alert 
			 18 October 2003 East and West 30 mins Lamp column in dangerous position following Road Traffic Accident 
			 28 October 2003 Eastbound — Total Closure 
			 10 December 2003 Westbound — Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 3 
			 13 December 2003 Eastbound 4 hrs Accident/ Damage to nearside barrier 
			 20 December 2003 Eastbound — Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 1 
			 2 March 2004 Westbound — Oil Spillage 
			 20 March 2004 Westbound — Oil Spillage 
			 30 March 2004 Eastbound — Oil Spillage 
			 6 October 2004 Westbound 2 hrs Serious Injury Accident 
			 18 December 2004 Westbound 3 hrs 15 mins Vehicle Fire 
			 7 April 2005 Eastbound — Oil Spillage 
			 17 May 2005 Westbound — Oil Spillage 
			 14 July 2005 Westbound — Oil Spillage 
			 12 October 2005 Eastbound — Oil Spillage 
			 27 October 2005 Eastbound 2 hrs Multiple Road Traffic Collision 
			 1 November 2005 Westbound 5 hrs 45 mins Injury Road Traffic Accident Lane 1

Road Deaths (Sunderland)

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road deaths there have been in the Sunderland council area in the last three years.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of fatalities in personal injury accidents, in the Sunderland local authority for the last three years for which data are available are given in the table.
	
		
			  Fatalities(8) 
		
		
			 2002 10 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 8 
		
	
	(8)Deaths within 30 days of the accident. Excludes confirmed suicides, death from natural causes and injuries to pedestrians with no vehicle involvement (eg a fall on the pavement).

Road Detrunking Programme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his road detrunking programme.

Stephen Ladyman: The policy of transferring non-core trunk roads (detrunking) to local highway authorities was first set out in the White Paper A New Deal for Transport" published in July 1998. Detrunking allows the Highways Agency to concentrate on the operation of the strategic trunk road network, whilst enabling local authorities to consider their own priorities for the improvement of non-core routes. The aim has been to transfer some 3,200 km (30 per cent.) of the trunk road network (as it was in April 1999) to local authorities in a phased programme. To date more than 80 per cent. (around 2,628 km) of the programme has been completed since April 2001. Prior to detrunking, the Highways Agency and local authorities agree the transfer of an appropriate level of funding for annual maintenance and in some cases for outstanding capital projects.
	During the financial year 2005–06, six routes have been detrunked. They are:
	A7 in Cumbria (between Carlisle boundary and the Scottish border)
	A40 in Gloucestershire (between the Oxfordshire County Council boundary and the M5)
	A48 in Gloucestershire (between A40 Highnam and the Welsh border)
	A417 in Gloucestershire (from M40 to A40)
	A500 in Cheshire (from Nantwich bypass to M6 junction 16)
	A6514 in the City of Nottingham (from A52 to A60)

Road Improvements

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roads have been widened in the last five years to ease bottlenecks.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 January 2006 (UIN 40570) which provides information on the Highways Agency trunk roads that have been widened in each of the last five years.
	The following table lists local authority roads that have been widened (at a cost of over £5 million) to ease bottlenecks in the last five years:
	
		
			  Scheme 
		
		
			 2000 — 
			 2001 — 
			 2002 Bridgewater Northern Distributor Road 
			  A22 Dualling Nightingale Farm—Polegate 
			  City Link/White City Interchange 
			  A5063 Trafford (The Quays to White City) 
			 2003 A689 Sedgefield—Wynyard 
			 2004 Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route (Regent Road to Gore Street) 
			  Stockport: Portwood roundabout under junction 27 of the M60 
			 2005 North West Taunton Package 
			  A386 Plymouth Northern Corridor 
			  A228 Main Road to Ropers Lane 
			  Improved access to North Manchester Business Park (Central Park)

Road Improvements

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list trunk roads given lower noise surfaces in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency aims to resurface the strategic road network with quieter materials as structural or safety related maintenance becomes due.
	Highway maintenance is carried out on a whole life cost basis, implementing the appropriate maintenance treatment at the optimum time. The requirement to carry out carriageway maintenance is based on the condition of an identified length of carriageway. Consequently, maintenance is not carried out for complete lengths of individual roads, but only where it has been identified as being required as part of the whole life cost maintenance solution.
	The following table shows the number of roads where the Highways Agency has implemented lengths of lower noise surfacing in the last five years, together with the number of lane kilometres (Lkms) treated (up to 21 December 2005):
	
		
			  Number of roads Total Lkms 
		
		
			 2001 45 638.4 
			 2002 54 951.5 
			 2003 62 1237.4 
			 2004 68 912.2 
			 2005(9) 45 778.4 
		
	
	(9)Details taken from HAPMSystem on 21 December 2005, details for 2005 are therefore incomplete.
	A list showing individual roads that were treated in each of the years in the above table has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Improvements

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on maintenance for trunk roads in each year since 2000–01.

Stephen Ladyman: The motorways and trunks roads of the strategic road network are managed by the Highways Agency, an executive Agency of the Department for Transport. The reporting of the spend on these roads is not broken down between motorways and trunk roads. The figures for the spend on the maintenance of these roads since 2000–01 are, in £ million:
	
		
			  Motorways and trunk roads 
		
		
			 2000–01 545 
			 2001–02 603 
			 2002–03 656 
			 2003–04 863 
			 2004–05 857

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those companies supporting his Department's THINK! road safety campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department's 2005 Annual Report to Parliament (Command Paper CM6527) listed the companies who supported the THINK! road safety campaign in 2004. Details of companies who are currently supporting the campaign are listed:
	Drink Drive
	Mitchells and Butler
	Spirit Group (now owned by Punch Taverns)
	Punch Taverns
	Enterprise Inns
	Regent Inns (Jongelurs and Walkabout)
	The Union Pub Company
	Pathfinder Pubs
	JD Wetherspoons
	Beefeater (Whitbread)
	Auto Trader
	Cabana Soft Drinks
	Threshers
	Scooterman
	ComCab (Zingos)
	Scoot
	The Portman Group
	The Publican
	Hardys and Hansons
	George Gale (now owned by Fullers)
	Fullers
	Youngs Pubs
	Greene King
	Shepherd Neame
	Driver Tiredness
	Moto
	RoadChef
	Welcome Break
	First Motorway
	Rocket Fuel
	MultiMap
	Little Chef
	Philips Maps
	M6 Toll Road
	Auto Trader
	RAC
	The Caravan Club
	CSMA
	What Car?
	Merlin Entertainment (Sea Life Centres)
	Old English Inns
	Child Road Safety
	Asda
	Fun Radio (Gcap)
	Dairy Farmers of Britain
	3M
	Motorbikes
	Hein Gericke
	Arai
	Bennetts
	Suzuki and Rizla Suzuki
	Ducati and Airwaves Ducati
	Yamaha and Virgin Yamaha
	Honda and HM Plant Honda
	Vespa
	Kawasaki and Hawk Kawasaki
	Dorna
	Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board
	Feridax
	Shoei
	Spyke
	Knox Back Protectors
	The THINK! Road Safety campaign has received in-kind rather than cash donations from these partners. Iwelcome this third party support. It provides a very valuable and effective way of communicating key campaign messages, using practical and immediate solutions, through commercial brands.

Road Safety

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include in the forthcoming Road Safety Bill measures to introduce additional penalties for those who continue to use hand-held mobile phones while driving.

Stephen Ladyman: The Road Safety Bill contains provisions to make the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving endorsable with. three penalty points. The Fixed Penalty Notice will become 60. For those convicted in court, the available penalties will include penalty points and a discretionary disqualification as well as a fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 in the case of a goods vehicle or a bus/coach).

Road Traffic Congestion

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the level of road traffic congestion since 2000–01.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government announced in the White Paper The Future of Transport (July 2004) that it was replacing the indicator set in Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan (July 2000). The new indicators, relating to journey time reliability on Highways Agency roads and person movements on local authority roads, will be measured from 2005–06 onwards. It is not possible to compare the new congestion indicators with the one used in 2000.

Roads

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on levels of road traffic miles travelled and road traffic congestion in (a) Harborough constituency and (b) the East Midlands Government office area.

Stephen Ladyman: Over the last 12 months the Department has received 21 representations for the East Midlands region in respect of the levels of road traffic miles travelled and road traffic congestion; and none specifically for Harborough.

Roads

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to ask the Highways Agency to review carriageway lighting in Cambridgeshire on the A47 and A1 routes in the next 12months.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency constantly monitors the safety record of all parts of the trunk road and motorway network and where justified takes action to install new lighting or extend any existing lighting provision. In all cases, the critical determining factor is the number and severity of accidents that have occurred during hours of darkness.
	Following a structural and electrical testing programme of lighting columns on the A47 in Cambridgeshire, the Highways Agency plans to replace existing lighting on the A47 Soke Parkway between junctions 17 and 20. These works are phase 2 of the contract and are currently programmed to start in September this year.
	The A1 in Cambridgeshire consists of an all purpose trunk road and a section of motorway known as A1(M) between junctions 14 and 17, running from Alconbury to Peterborough.
	Lighting was provided along the complete length of the A1(M) at the outset, when the motorway opened in 1998 and no review is planned.
	The Highways Agency has no proposals to review carriageway lighting along the A1 all-purpose trunk road in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough City. Existing lighting columns and lanterns will be replaced as and when required under the Agency's maintenance regime.

Seat Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of seat belt wearing rates if persons guilty of an offence under section 14(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, in lieu of a fine, attend a driving safety course paid for by the offender that includes instruction on the benefits of wearing seat belts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if his Department will undertake a review drawing on international research and experience into the effects of requiring persons guilty of an offence under section 14(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, in lieu of a fine, to attend a driving safety course paid for by the offender that includes instruction on the benefits of wearing seat belts; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: This offence relates to the failure of adults to use seat belts in motor vehicles. The Department has not undertaken such research and has no current plans to undertake such a review. Seat belt wearing rates in Great Britain are already generally high as demonstrated by the wearing rates given in my answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column2026W, to the hon. Member.

Seat Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department last undertook a review of the evidence relating to the effectiveness of seat belts in reducing deaths and injury that drew on (a) UK and (b) international research; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: A report to Parliament, 'Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing: Report by the Department for Transport' dated 14 October 1985 (ISBN 0115507094, available from The Stationery Office) is the last such review. That report provided the evidence to support the decision, debated in January 1986, to make permanent the regulations on seat belt wearing that had first come into force in January 1983. The factors that make seat belts effective in reducing deaths and injury have not changed since then.

Seat Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research projects commissioned by his Department are being undertaken on the effects of seat belt wearing; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Two research projects are currently being undertaken. One is the regular observational survey of seat belt wearing by TRL Ltd. for the Department—the most recent report, 'Lf2096', is available at www.trl.co.uk/store/report_list.asp?pid=211&pno=6&searchtext= (see the page for reports 51 to 57).
	The second, an 'In-depth Study of Trends in Fatal Accidents', will report in spring 2007. That part of the study being undertaken by TRL Ltd. will include, among other things, an estimation of the reduction in risk achieved by seat belt wearing.

Speed Cameras

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice is given to speed camera partnerships regarding the prosecution of drivers of emergency vehicles for breaking the speed limit.

Stephen Ladyman: We do not give advice to safety camera partnerships about the prosecution of drivers of emergency vehicles who break the speed limit.
	Section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 allows police, fire, and ambulance vehicles to be exempt from speed limits if observing the speed limit would hinder the execution of emergency activity for which the vehicle is being used on that occasion. Prosecutions are considered outside of this exemption.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers has policy guidance on this though final decisions on such prosecutions are a matter for Chief Police Officers.

Transport Infrastructure (Sussex)

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on improvements in transport infrastructure in west Sussex since 1997; and what proportion of this expenditure was spent in mid-Sussex.

Karen Buck: Since the introduction of local transport plans in 2000, west Sussex has received around £73 million for local transport improvements and maintenance schemes. In addition the county council has received approximately £14.5 million county council has received approximately £7.7 million for local transport capital investment. We do not have the data to identify a figure separately for local transport investment in mid-Sussex.
	Funding for trunk roads is neither allocated nor recorded on a county by county basis. West Sussex has benefited from the new trains and associated power supply and depot upgrades delivered as part of the Mark 1 slam door" stock replacement programme, the total value of the investment (benefiting west Sussex and other parts of London and the south east) being in the region of £2 billion.

Transport Projects (Appraisal System)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which transport projects were assessed using the New Approach to Appraisal system; and what the conclusions were in each case.

Karen Buck: The New Approach To Appraisal (NATA) was announced in the Government's 1998 White Paper A new deal for transport: better for everyone". The NATA provides a comprehensive assessment of the main impacts of a scheme on the environment, safety, the economic performance, accessibility and integration so that all the key criteria are considered in decisions.
	NATA was first used to inform decisions taken during the 1998 Roads Review and results for 67 schemes which were candidates for the targeted programme of improvements were published in A new deal for trunk roads in England: Understanding the New Approach To Appraisal". The Highways Agency has continued to use the NATA for all major (that is, those costing more than £5 million) highway schemes since then. It also introduced a simplified version of NATA for use on small schemes.
	Subsequently, the NATA was revised to be applicable to other transport modes, including rail, light rail and bus schemes. NATA has been used for appraisal of Community Infrastructure Funding. The Department has required the use of the NATA for the appraisal of all Local Transport Plan major schemes (road and public transport) since 2000. The NATA was the basis for OPRAF's 1999 Planning Criteria—a guide to the appraisal of support for passenger rail services", revised in 2003 by the Strategic Rail Authority and published as Appraisal Criteria—a guide to the appraisal of support for passenger and freight rail services".
	The NATA has been applied to a wide range of transport projects proposed by a number of different agencies. The Department does not hold a comprehensive record of all of these projects and to compile one would be prohibitively expensive. However, the projects have been subject to the NATA before submission to Ministers in the period February 2004 to June 2005.
	NATA is used to appraise and inform the prioritisation of schemes. A range of appraisal requirements including assessments using the NATA system apply to all schemes submitted to the Department for funding, with the level of detail required in the appraisal being proportional to the scale and complexity of the scheme. For each scheme, the Appraisal Summary Table provides an indication of the impact of the scheme on each of five criteria.

Water-borne Pleasure Craft

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the use of alternative fuels by water-borne pleasure craft.

Stephen Ladyman: None.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Closures (East Midlands)

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) post offices, (b) bank branches, (c) independent retail shops and (d) police stations have closed in each calendar year since 1997 in (i) Harborough constituency and (ii) the East Midlands Government office area.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows.
	(a) Post offices
	Decisions on post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I understand from the company that the numbers of net closures are as follows:
	Harborough constituency
	2002–03: 1 net opening
	1 net closure
	4 net closures (including three under urban reinvention programme)
	Constituency closure data are not available prior to financial year 2002–03.
	East Midlands region
	38 net closures
	31 net closures
	108 net closures
	90 net closures
	Regional closure data prior to financial year 2001–02 are not available. Closures in 2003–04 and 2004–05 include closures under the urban reinvention programme.
	(b) Bank branches
	The number of local bank branch closures is not available.
	This is a matter for each individual bank, but my officials have checked with the British Bankers' Association, the Financial Services Authority and the Office for National Statistics. None of them are able to provide the number of bank closures.
	(c) Independent retail shops
	VAT de-registrations for retail businesses 1 in Harborough constituency and East Midlands Government office region, are shown as follows for 1997 to 2004.
	
		VAT de-registrations in the retail sector(10)
		
			  Harborough East Midlands 
		
		
			 1997 45 1,540 
			 1998 25 1,490 
			 1999 35 1,465 
			 2000 30 1,425 
			 2001 30 1,300 
			 2002 30 1,320 
			 2003 35 1,400 
			 2004 35 1,420 
		
	
	(10)Standard Industrial Classification 52.
	Source:
	Small Business Service figures based on data from the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register.
	(d) Police stations
	Information provided by police forces for police stations opened and closed in Harborough constituency and East Midlands Government office region, are shown as follows for 1997 to 2004.
	
		
			  Leicestershire(11) East Midlands Government office area 
			  Op Cls Op Cls 
		
		
			 1997 3 0 6 6 
			 1998 2 2 2 25 
			 1999 3 3 6 6 
			 2000 2 0 4 0 
			 2001 0 0 3 1 
			 2002 1 1 3 3 
			 2003 3 3 4 7 
			 2004 0 0 1 2 
		
	
	(11)Harborough figures are included within Leicestershire.

EU Structural Funds

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which types of projects may qualify for EU structural funding.

Alun Michael: The eligibility of projects for support from the EU structural funds is determined by the relevant Council and Commission regulations and by the more detailed priorities for intervention established in programming documents.
	Although the details vary from one programme to another, typically structural funds programmes in the UK support a range of activities in the fields of business development, community regeneration, training and development of skills.

First-class Mail

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of first class mail was delivered to arrive the next day in each London postal district in (a) the most recent year available and (b) 1999–2000.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail and the chief executive has been asked to reply directly to the hon. Member.

Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry 
	(1)  what steps will be taken by the Department following the consultation on the effectiveness of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 as it applies to internal industry payments practices;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 in encouraging the timely settlement of construction industry debts.

Alun Michael: My written statement to the House on Monday 16 January announced the publication of Improving Payment Practices in the Construction Industry—Analysis of the Consultation on Proposals to Amend Part II of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and the Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998".

Illegal Broadcasting

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints Ofcom has received in each of the last five years in relation to (a) pirate radio stations and (b) illegal broadcasts; and how many prosecutions it initiated in each case in each year.

Alun Michael: holding answer 15 December 2005
	Radio spectrum use under the Wireless and Telegraphy Act is a matter for Ofcom. The information on complaints and prosecutions has therefore been prepared in consultation with the regulator.
	I am informed by Ofcom their records show that, since 1 April 2002 (when reliable records showing this level of detail began) the yearly figures for complaints received have been:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002 (April-December) 592 
			 2003 1,085 
			 2004 446 
			 2005 (to date) 966 
		
	
	The figures for completed prosecutions for the same periods are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002 (April-December) 23 
			 2003 71 
			 2004 59 
			 2005 38 
		
	
	In recording these details, Ofcom (and its predecessor, the Radiocommunications Agency) draws no distinction between complaints about named pirate radio stations and unidentifiable illegal broadcasts. They record any complaint or allegation of illegal broadcasting in the same way.

Microgeneration

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants in his Department are dedicated full-time to the promotion of microgeneration.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department of Trade and Industry has three civil servants dedicated full-time to the promotion of microgeneration.

Military Hardware Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of defencemilitary hardware exports to (a) Poland and (b) Hungary in 2005.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI Export Control Organisation (ECO) is responsible only for holding information on the licences it has issued, not on exports made under those licences. The Government publishes detailed information on its export licensing decisions, including the total value of standard individual export licences (SIELs) issued, by destination, in its annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. Her Majesty's Revenue and Custom collects some data on exports of military list items which is published, by destination, in the annual reports.
	The annual reports are available from the Libraries of the House, and the quarterly reports, from the DTI Export Control Organisation website, www.dti.gov.uk/export.control. We expect to publish the 2005 annual report by June 2006, and the final quarterly report for 2005, by end March 2006.

Miners' Compensation

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that the data collected in relation to UK coal miners' health claims is passed to the Medical Research Council for archiving and further research.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 January 2006
	In general, the Department is happy to make available generic information collated through the schemes. It should be noted that much of the information the Department holds relates to individuals and their claims. The Department will have to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 in considering how much information can be released. The issue will be considered with the schemes' Medical Reference Panels.

Miners' Compensation

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal health claimants have been under surveillance since the scheme started; how many proven cases of fraud there have been in relation to (a) vibration white finger claims and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims; what the total cost has been to date of audit investigations on counter fraud procedures for each scheme; and what estimate he has made of the savings made through surveillance procedures.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 January 2006
	Surveillance has been undertaken on 80 claimants since the start of the schemes.
	The main protection against fraud/exaggeration in the schemes is the medical assessment process in the respiratory disease scheme and the employment requirement in the vibration white finger (VWF) scheme. About 10 per cent. (26,000) of respiratory disease and 20 per cent. (24,000) VWF claims have been denied.
	In addition, of 2,199 claims investigated as potentially fraudulent, 789 claims have been reduced or denied, 46of which were as a result of surveillance. This is made up of 683 VWF, 100 COPD and six other claims. The total saving for anti-fraud activity is approximately £10.75 million of which approximately £870,000 has been saved from cases in which surveillance was used. The total cost of counter-fraud activity is approximately £3 million.

Mint Postage Stamps

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the sterling value was of mint postage stamps sold in post offices and by mail order in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997–98, broken down by (a) first class, (b) second class and (c) other.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Nuclear Industry

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which organisations will fund the upgrade of the Sellafield MOX Plant; and how much it is estimated to cost.

Malcolm Wicks: The Sellafield MOX Plant was transferred to the NDA under the Energy Act. As such the asset is owned by the NDA and it is responsible for funding its operation, maintenance and enhancement.
	The planned engineering enhancements to improve SMP throughput are detailed in the current Near Term Work Plan and are estimated to cost in the order of £13.5 million over the next two to three years.

Nuclear Industry

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total cost of the Sellafield MOX Plant to date; and how much income it has generated.

Malcolm Wicks: I am advised by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that the current capitalised asset value of the Sellafield MOX Plant is £490 million. The income generated to date is £55 million.

Nuclear Industry

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what liabilities for pensions for workers inthe state-owned sector of the nuclear industry are anticipated following any sale of companies in that sector.

Malcolm Wicks: The liabilities for accrued pensions will remain constant and therefore the effect will be neutral. Until the sale of Westinghouse is concluded and the competition of sites is completed we will not know how many staff will transfer to the private sector and how many will transfer accrued pension rights.

Piracy

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has commissioned research into the cost to British trade of piracy in international waters.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government take the issue of piracy extremely seriously and have published on the Department's website a counter-piracy strategy which sets out the actions that it has committed to taking to tackle the menace of piracy. However, neither the Department for Transport nor the Department for Trade and Industry have commissioned research into the cost to British trade of piracy in international waters.

Radioactive Waste Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications of the use of discarded cathode-ray tubes for vitrification of high-level nuclear waste; and whether he has discussed this with the Committee for Radioactive Waste Management.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made no assessment of the use of cathode-ray tubes for inclusion in the vitrification process of high-level nuclear waste.
	I am advised by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that obsolete cathode-ray tubes have been considered for vitrified glass, but were found to be unsuitable as they did not produce a product that met the high quality control specification for the vitrified glass waste form.

Renewable Energy

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the market value is of 1MW/hr of power under the renewables obligation certificate scheme; and what that value was in each year since the introduction of the scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: This is no single market value for renewables obligation certificates (ROCs). The renewables obligation is a market-based mechanism, and so the value of individual ROCs varies according to a number of different factors including volume, liquidity, supply and demand.
	However, the Non Fossil Purchasing Agency operates, on behalf of its clients, a biannual ROC auction. The average price for a ROC in the last auction, which was completed on 20 October 2005, was £39.17.

Renewable Energy

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total traded value in (a) financial terms and (b) MW/hr of the renewables obligation certificate scheme has been since its introduction.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not hold information on the market value or number of renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) traded since the introduction of the renewables obligation in 2002.
	The renewables obligation is a market-based mechanism, and so the value of individual ROCs varies according to a number of different factors including supply and demand. In addition, not all ROCs issued by Ofgem will necessarily be traded. For example, electricity suppliers who are also renewables generators will have less need to trade ROCs than some other market participants.
	Information on ROCs is published in Ofgem's Annual Report on the renewables obligation. A copy of which is available from the Libraries of the House.

Royal Mail

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Royal Mail spent on employment and recruitment specialists in each year since 1997.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Royal Mail

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what executive performance bonus scheme Royal Mail operates; and if he will make a statement on its objectives.

Barry Gardiner: As with other public limited companies, Royal Mail directors' remuneration is required to be published in its annual report and accounts. The latest accounts (2004–05) were published in May last year and a copy is available in the Libraries of the House.

Shrewsbury Power Station

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are to replace the power station near Buildwas in the Shrewsbury constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: This is a commercial matter for the company concerned.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2012 Olympics

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what commitments the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games has given to the International Olympic Committee with regard to enabling them to monitor and regulate betting on the Olympic Games.

Richard Caborn: The International Olympic Committee did not request any guarantees of this sort from London 2012 during the bidding phase on betting and as such none were given. The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) is aware of its obligations under the Host City Contract and has discussed these with Government. LOCOG is also aware of the existing legal position relating to betting in the UK, where the onus remains on governing bodies and the organisers of sporting events to protect the integrity of their own events. The Gambling Act 2005 makes it a key objective of the Gambling Commission to keep gambling crime free. The Gambling Commission will work closely with sporting and Olympic authorities to minimise potential threats to the integrity of Olympic events.

2012 Paralympics

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department plans to provide to disabled athletes to enable them to compete in the 2012 Paralympics; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Financial support to our very best disabled athletes to enable them to compete at the highest level is provided through UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme. The investment for Paralympic Sport in the build up to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics is £22.4 million, including £2 million for the British Paralympic Association. In addition, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and 2012 Scholarships provide financial assistance to talented athletes, including disabled athletes, who are committed to combining their sport and education to help fulfil their sporting potential. £17 million is being provided to support these schemes over the period 2004–08. The level of financial support to our very best athletes, including disabled athletes, beyond 2009 in the build up to Games in 2012 has yet to be determined.

Administrative Costs

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales; and what administration costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

David Lammy: Although DCMS retains policy and legislative responsibility for a number of functions in Wales and Northern Ireland none of these functions are carried out in the devolved countries themselves and therefore no administration costs are incurred directly by the Department.

Art/Sport (Disabled People)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to meet its target for increasing the take up of arts and sports opportunities by people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department is taking significant steps to increase participation in the arts and sports by people with disabilities.
	In Sport, through Sport England, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) receives £1.05 million funding each year. The EFDS is an umbrella organisation which brings together five disability sport bodies and disburses grants to other disability sport organisations and programmes.
	There is also Lottery support for disability sport. The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI), has received an initial £1 million in lottery money to make health and fitness facilities accessible to disabled people.
	In November 2004, the Equality Standard was launched as a framework for assisting sports organisations to widen access and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity from under-represented individuals, groups and communities. This includes people with disabilities.
	In the Arts, several of the Arts Council's Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) produce work specifically with or for disabled people—the Shape network, the Disability Arts Forum network, Vocal Eyes, Theatre Resource and StageText. RFOs also provide training and participatory sessions aimed specifically at disabled people.
	In February 2004, the Arts Council allocated capital investment totalling £4.3 million to six disability-led organisations from the Grants for the Arts Capital programme. This represents 7 per cent. of the total allocation through the programme.
	The Arts Council also supports the National Disability Touring Network which works with a range of venues and promoters to help expand arts participation and attendance by disabled people.

Big Lottery Fund

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library a copy of the deprivation index used for resource allocation by the Big Lottery Fund.

Richard Caborn: There is no one deprivation index used for resource allocation by the Big Lottery Fund. I have asked the chief executive of the Fund to write to the hon. Member in more detail and I will place copies of his response in the Libraries of both Houses.

Consultants/Special Advisers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1094, on Consultants/Special Advisers, if she will place in the Library a copy of the ASK Europe plc report on 360 Degree Feedback; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: From December 2003 to September 2004, DCMS ran a 360 Degree Feedback programme designed to increase self awareness and management performance among staff with line management responsibility. The contract was awarded to ASK Europe plc. after a competitive tender exercise. I am arranging for copies of ASK Europe's report on the programme to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 21 November 2005.

James Purnell: I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 11 January.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Minister for Sport will reply to the letter of 25 November 2005 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire.

Richard Caborn: I am currently awaiting advice on the issues raised in the correspondence from your constituent, to which I hope to respond to shortly.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by her Department on new works of art in each year since 1997; where each item is located; and whether each item is accessible to the public.

David Lammy: The following figures represent how much the Government Art Collection (part of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport) has spent on works of art since 1 April1997, including the current Financial Year:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 137,000 
			 1998–99 127,000 
			 1999–2000 179,000 
			 2000–01 135,000 
			 2001–02 158,000 
			 2002–03 253,600 
			 2003–04 225,200 
			 2004–05 295,500 
			 2005–10 January 2006 242,600 
		
	
	Some works of art included in these figures have beenpurchased or commissioned by the Government Art Collection on behalf of other Government Departments. These figures exclude works of art commissioned for the new Home Office building, Marsham Street, London as the project is ongoing and costs have not been finalised.
	A list of current locations of works of art purchased since 1 April 1997 (as of 10 January 2006) and listed by Government Department and Government Art Collection (GAC), is provided in a separate document. I am arranging for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The GAC's acquisition policy is guided by the Advisory Committee on the GAC which is a non-departmental public body. Members are both independent and ex-officio, including the Directors of the Tate, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.
	The GAC plays a unique role in the UK in displaying works of art from its holdings in major Government buildings in the UK and abroad, in order to promote British art, culture and history. Due to the nature of Government buildings and current security issues, it is not possible for the general public to gain open access to most of the works on a daily basis. However, the buildings in which the works of art are displayed—in reception rooms, entrance halls, Minister's and ambassador's offices—all receive many thousands of visitors per year, all over the world.
	Members of the public may consult the GAC to see individual works of art. Additionally, many Government buildings in the UK (including the GAC's own premises) are accessible during the annual Open House Weekend. The GAC also gives regular tours throughout the year round its premises, lends works of art to public exhibitions, and operates a website (www.gac.culture.gov.uk) listing and illustrating all its original works of art. A growing number of historical and modern prints are being added to this.

Digital Broadcasting

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 2181W, on digital broadcasting, what estimate she has made of the (a) number of sets that will ultimately become surplus to requirement as non-digitalised and (b) total cost to the public of compliance with digitalisation; what regulations govern disposing of excess sets; and what estimate she has made of the cost of disposing.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	Digital switchover itself does not require any equipment to be thrown away, but its timing may affect the timing of disposal of some equipment such as rarely used televisions that people choose not to adapt. This may accelerate the process by which all electrical equipment would be disposed of in the natural course of events.
	DTI and DEFRA have commissioned research to model any changes in patterns of waste disposal generate by digital switchover. The first results from this research are expected shortly.
	A comprehensive assessment of total costs to consumers arising from digital television switchover was made in cost benefit analysis work undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport between 2002 and 2005. Details of this assessment also appear in the Government's Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment on the timing of digital switchover which was published on 16 September 2005.
	Any additional waste electrical equipment produced as a result of the switchover will be disposed of subject to the requirement of the EU waste electrical and electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. The planned WEEE regulations, which implement the directive, will make producers of electrical goods financially responsible for the collection, treatment and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The planned implementation of the WEEE regulations are currently under review and a new timetable for implementation will be announced shortly.

Elite Athlete Funding

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from whom she has received representations on elite athlete funding since the pre-Budget report; and what view each expressed.

Richard Caborn: In addition to periodic telephone calls and conversations between DCMS, UK Sport and BOA officials, the BOA wrote to the Department on 21 December about elite athlete funding. The letter expressed support for setting a target of 4th place in the Olympic medal table in 2012, and that there should be a six year funding package for elite athletes.

Elite Athlete Funding

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 32W, on elite athletes (funding), what the title was of UK Sports's submission; what level of funding it envisaged; over how many years; and what aspirational target for medals it set.

Richard Caborn: UK Sport's submission to the Department was called A Sporting Chance for all in 2012: Additional Funding to Support Team GB Success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Options for the Chancellor's 2005 Pre-Budget Report: Submission from UK Sport".
	The submission presents a 'top line' funding package together with a range of options for additional investment in the run-up to London 2012, starting in 2006. The submission identifies potential medal targets for 2012 depending on the resources available.
	As this policy advice is under active consideration, it would not be appropriate to divulge further details.

Gender Equality (Sports Events)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on whether there should be equal prize money for men and women participating in mixed events such as road races.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to promoting equality in sport but decisions on prize money for men and women participating in mixed events are an issue for those organising the events.

Gender Equality (Sports Events)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the (a) Amateur Athletics Association and (b) UK Athletics will be subject to the duty to promote gender equality under the Equality Bill.

Richard Caborn: The Government have consulted on the range of bodies they intend to require to comply with the specific duties under the Equality Bill. The consultation period ended on 12 January 2006 and all responses will be carefully considered.

German Football Grounds

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Government have requested an independent assessment of the safety of German football grounds to be used for the 2006 World cup; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government have not requested an independent assessment of the safety of German football grounds to be used for this summer's World cup.
	While it is a matter for FIFA to decide whether any independent assessment is appropriate, the German FA has agreed to look at the concerns highlighted in the German consumer watchdog's report and I understand that the English FA will closely monitor the situation as necessary.

Gyms (Disabled Access)

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 39–40W, on gyms (accessibility), in which parliamentary constituencies the 180 local authority gyms which have received Sport England investment are located; what recent meetings Sport England and the English Federation of Disability Sport have had with Cannons and Fitness First to discuss improving provision for disabled people in private sector facilities; what was discussed; and whether they propose to meet other gym providers.

Richard Caborn: Sport England and the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) have met the Chair and chief executive of the Fitness Industry Association to discuss the implementation and delivery of a number of pilot projects in private sector gym facilities. Their aim is to encourage the implementation of the principles of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative to all providers.
	Sport England is currently working with the following private gym providers: Fitness First, Colchester; Esporta, Guildford; Cannons, Paddington; Fitness Express, Kelling Heath; LA Fitness, Fornby; and Livingwell, Barnsley.
	A list of the 180 local authority gyms supported by the Inclusive Fitness Initiative will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gyms (Disabled Access)

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 39–40W, on gyms (accessibility), what (a) submissions she has made to and (b) discussions she has had with the Department for Work and Pensions inter-departmental group on disability regarding disabled user access to gymnasia.

Richard Caborn: DCMS has made no submissions about disabled user access to gymnasia to the inter-departmental group on disability, nor has it raised this issue as a specific discussion topic for the group.

Gyms (Disabled Access)

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 39–40W, on gyms (accessibility), which local authorities responded to her correspondence in August 2005.

Richard Caborn: Our August 2005 letter to local authorities about the Disability Discrimination Act did not solicit a response. However, some local authorities have chosen to reply and these include:
	Birmingham city council;
	Manchester city council;
	Sedgemoor district council;
	West Lancashire district council;
	Castle Morpeth borough council;
	Selby district council.

Historic Sites

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many historic sites were on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk list in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The number of historic sites on English Heritage's Building at Risk register for the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Sites 
		
		
			 2005 7 
			 2004 7 
			 2003 8 
			 2002 7 
			 2001 7 
		
	
	During this period, three sites have been removed from the Register and a further three have been added.

Office Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) her Department, (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in each English region owned in (1) 2003–04 and (2) 2004–05;
	(2)  how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) her Department, (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each of the English regions and (4) Northern Ireland owned in (x) 2003–04 and (y) 2004–05.

David Lammy: My Department does not hold a record of the IT and telecommunications assets of its NDPBs, Agency or any other public body. The information could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Olympic Development Authority

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to ensure potential suitably qualified candidates for the Board of the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) are informed of the prospective recruitment; and whether she plans to make it her policy that each country within the United Kingdom is proportionately represented on the ODA board.

Richard Caborn: The advertisements for membership of the Board of the Olympic Development Authority were published in National newspapers and on the Web and several hundred applications were received.
	Board members will be selected from among the applicants according to how well they meet the requirements of the post. There are no plans to recruit board members on a geographical basis but we are committed to assembling the best talent from across the UK.

Press Complaints Commission

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the term of office of the current chairman of the Press Complaints Commission is due to end.

James Purnell: The Press Complaints Commission is an independent body, and Government plays no role in the appointment of any of its officers. However, I understand from the PCC that Sir Christopher Meyer's term of office will run until 31 March 2009.

Theatre Audiences

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the percentage of audiences representing black and minority ethnic communities at (a) the National Theatre, (b) the Royal Opera House and (c) the English National Opera in the last year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: 9 per cent. of English National Opera's (ENO) audience for the period 2004–05 were from the black and minority ethnic community. In addition, a February 2003 to May 2004 snapshot shows that 44 per cent. of participants in projects run by ENO Baylis (ENO's education programme) were from the black and minority ethnic community.
	No comparable statistics were available for the Royal Opera House or National Theatre.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, working in partnership with its non-departmental public body partners, has commissioned the Taking Part" survey which aims to improve our current knowledge of engagement in our sectors. The data collected will enable a robust measurement of the departmental Public Service Agreement (PSA) target on increasing participation and attendance amongst priority groups. These include people from the black and minority ethnic community.

Tourism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the financial contribution of the tourist industry to London's economy in the last year for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The English regions 'First Steps Tourism Satellite Account' report (August 2005), sponsored by the English Regional Development Agencies, estimated that, in 2000, the contribution of tourism to regional Gross-Value Added (GVA) in London was around £7 billion, or 5.3 per cent.

Tourism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many jobs she estimates the tourist industry creates in London.

James Purnell: The English regions 'First Steps Tourism Satellite Account' report (August 2005), sponsored by the English Regional Development Agencies, estimated that tourism industry employment in London was around 740,000 workers in 2000.

Violent Computer Games

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport if she will commission research on the impact of violent computer games on individuals.

James Purnell: We commissioned research last year to determine whether there was any substance to allegations of a link between playing violent computer games and violent behaviour in real life. We will be publishing the results of the research shortly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Brixham Council Proposal

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he received draft proposals from Torbay council for the establishment of a town council for Brixham; if he will expedite his confirmation of receipt of the proposals to enable the town council to be established before 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received proposals from Torbay council for the establishment of a town council for Brixham on 1 December 2005. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to Torbay council confirming receipt of their recommendation on 2 December 2005.
	For administrative and financial purposes new parishes are established on 1 April in any year. The earliest date that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to establish a town council for Brixham is 1 April 2007.

Business Rates (London)

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the change in the amount raised through business rates was in each London borough in 2004–05 compared to the previous year.

Phil Woolas: Details of the amount raised through business rates in each London borough in 2003–04 and 2004–05 are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/data/cp045tab4.xls

Correspondence

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Manchester Central sent on 16 August 2005, reference number FIRE01002/SKL.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no record of receiving my hon. Friend's letter of 16 August 2005. However, I have replied to my hon. Friends letter of 30 August on 9 January, which quotes the same reference number.

Departmental Estate

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the former (a) buildings and (b) land of (i) his Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies, (B) agencies and (C) independent statutory bodies for which his Department is responsible which have been sold since 7 May 1997; what the sale price of each (1) was at the time of sale and (2) is at current prices; and whether the money accrued was (x) retained by his Department and (y) claimed by the Treasury.

Phil Woolas: Since the formation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2002 no land or buildings for which it or its agencies are responsible have been sold. Information relating to non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	This answer does not include land and buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual expenditure on (a) fixtures and fittings, (b) general office expenses and (c) office equipment was of his (i) Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) Executive agency and (C)other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each English region and (4) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no properties in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Departmental Jobs (Regional Distribution)

Michael Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of jobs in (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which his Department is responsible are located in (A)England, excluding Greater London and (B) Greater London.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The figures on permanent staff (FTE basis) in Departments and agencies are published in Table D of Civil Service Statistics. This information is available on the Cabinet Office Statistics website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_ service/statistics/civil_service_statistics/index.asp
	Information on staff in non-departmental public bodies on a regional basis is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Targets

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with stakeholders about implementation of each of the targets in his Department's strategic priority (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister works in partnership with all our delivery partners and stakeholders to deliver on our strategic priorities and public service agreement targets, and hold frequent discussions with them at the national, regional and local level.

Departmental Targets

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of each of the targets in his Department's Strategic Priority (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publishes an assessment of progress against our priorities and public service agreement targets in our annual and autumn performance reports. The latest assessment published was in the autumn performance report published in December 2005 (Cmd. 6722). The next assessment will be given in the annual report for 2005–06, due to be published in spring 2006.

Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 254W on engagements, if he will list the meetings he had while in (a) Worthing and (b) Brighton; and whom he met in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited Worthing and Brighton as part of a regional visit to the South Coast on 17 December 2005. In Worthing, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister had a meeting to discuss regeneration initiatives in Shoreham and Worthing, at which council representatives and others involved in local regeneration projects were present.
	In Brighton, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited the Brighton Jubilee Library, where he discussed economic development in the city. Representatives from the local council, Local Strategic Partnership, Economic Partnership and Regional Development Agency were present. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also attended the Brighton and Hove Albion v. Hull City football match. Also present were a number of the directors of both clubs and their guests.

Home Information Packs

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department will provide support for independents in the field of estate agents, surveyors and solicitors as home information packs become required by law.

Yvette Cooper: The Government are providing information, advice and other supporting material to all stakeholders, including the development and launch of a dedicated website targeting core stakeholder groups in spring 2006. This support will supplement industry initiatives including business solutions designed to meet the particular needs of small independent businesses.

Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new (a) council houses, (b) houses for social rent and (c) private homes have been built in each year since 1977–78 ; how many are planned for 2006–07 in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Historical figures on house building by tenure in England are provided in the Housing Statistics Table 244 on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at:
	http://www.odpm.gov.uk/embedded_object.asp?id=l156060.
	Planned annual housing requirements are developed as part the Regional Spatial Strategies. The Government's response to Kate Barker's Review outlined its ambition to increase the rate of all house building from 150,000 net additional dwellings per year today to 200,000 net additional dwellings per year by 2016.
	The Government set a target of providing 75,000 social rented homes, through a mix of new build and purchase, from 2004–05 to 2007–08. Of these it is estimated around 3,000 will be provided through local authorities and at least 60,000 through Registered Social Landlords. In addition housing will be provided under the Private Finance Initiative and by planning gain.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have used provisions in the Local Government Act 2004 to borrow for housing; against what (a) revenue stream and (b) security such borrowing is allowed; what the process of authorisation for such borrowing is; and whether such borrowing is (i) on and (ii) off balance sheet on (A)local and (B) national level.

Phil Woolas: No information is centrally available on the number of local authorities which have borrowed for housing under the powers in the Local Government Act 2003, which came into force on 1 April 2004. An authority's borrowing for its own housing stock must be affordable from the resources available from its housing revenue account. All money borrowed by a local authority has to be secured against its total revenues. Authorities may borrow for capital spending without Government consent, provided that they can afford to service the debt out of their revenues. Any borrowing by an authority will be on its balance sheet and would appear on the balance sheet of any national consolidation of local authority accounts.

Housing

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for large scale housing development in Shrewsbury; what assessment he has made of the implications of such developments for green belt areas; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: This falls within the responsibilities of Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council as the local planning authority. The allocation of sites for housing is a matter for the council to consider in the preparation of its new Local Development Framework (LDF). The First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has a statutory role in relation to the LDF and proposals for individual sites may come before my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for decision on appeal or call in. Therefore it would not normally be appropriate for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to become involved directly in local planning processes for Shrewsbury. There is no statutory green belt in the Shrewsbury area, but any development on greenfield sites should be considered by the council against relevant national planning policies and the Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands, as well as the adopted local development plan.

Housing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of new housing development in Gravesham has been on brownfield land in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The percentage of new housing development in Gravesham is as follows:
	
		
			  Annual completions (gross) Number of dwellings built on brownfield land Percentage of dwellings built on brownfield land 
		
		
			 2000–01 92 85 92 
			 2001–02 104 98 94 
			 2002–03 209 129 62 
			 2003–04 225 219 97 
			 2004–05 486 449 92 
			 Total 1,116 980 88 
			 Annual average 223 196 — 
		
	
	Figures showing the percentage of new housing development on brownfield land prior to 2000 are not available.

Housing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the total area of privately owned gardens in Gravesham that has been developed in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The following table provides the number of privately owned gardens that have been developed on between 2000 and 2003:
	
		
			   Annual completions (gross) Number of units built on private garden land 
		
		
			 2000–01 92 2 
			 2001–02 104 6 
			 2002–03 209 2 
			 2003–04 225 — 
			 2004–05 486 — 
			 Total 1,116 — 
			 Annual Average 223 — 
		
	
	Please note that the size in hectares and the figures for annual completions (gross) prior to 2000 and after 2002–03 are not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many hectares of (a) greenfield and (b) brownfield land have been developed in Gravesham in each year since 1997; and how many new homes such development has involved in each category.

Yvette Cooper: The following table provides the number of new housing developments in greenfield and brownfield land in Gravesham since 2000:
	
		
			  Annual completions (gross) Number of units built on greenfield land Number of units built on brownfield land 
		
		
			 2000–01 92 7 85 
			 2001–02 104 6 98 
			 2002–03 209 80 129 
			 2003–04 225 6 219 
			 2004–05 486 37 449 
			 Total 1,116 136 980 
			 Annual Average 223 27 196 
		
	
	Please note that the figures for annual completions (gross) prior to 2000 and the size in hectares is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how much money he estimates the Government's proposed housing levy will raise in Milton Keynes unitary authority in each of the next five years;
	(2)  whether the housing levy raised within the Milton Keynes unitary authority will be ring fenced for use solely within Milton Keynes unitary authority.

Yvette Cooper: As part of its response to Kate Barker's Review of Housing Supply, the Government are currently consulting on the introduction of planning gain supplement (PGS), which would apply to residential and non-residential land. PGS would capture a modest portion of the land value uplift created by the planning process, in order to help finance additional infrastructure, while preserving incentives to bring forward land for development.
	PGS would not be implemented before 2008. The level of PGS has not yet been set. It is premature to attempt to estimate the amount of PGS that might be raised in Milton Keynes unitary authority in 2008 and beyond.
	PGS would be an essentially local measure. A significant majority of PGS revenues would be recycled directly to the local level for local priorities. This would help local communities to share better the benefits of growth and manage its impacts. As part of its consultation, the Government are consulting on how PGS revenues should be recycled to the local level for local priorities and how they should be used to fund strategic infrastructure at the regional level.
	Separate from PGS there is currently a mechanism under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as substituted by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 whereby parties with an interest in land may enter into a planning obligation enforceable by the local planning authority. Such planning obligations are used to make acceptable development which would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms, for example to compensate for loss or damage created by a development or mitigate a developments' impact.
	An approach to standardising planning obligations has been developed in Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes Partnership Committee (MKPC, which has development control powers in the Milton Keynes expansion areas) has developed a prospectus" identifying and prioritising the local and strategic infrastructure needed to deliver 15,000 homes in the expansion flanks over the period to 2016. The prospectus identifies the contributions to infrastructure that will be made by developers, through planning obligations, broken down on a per dwelling basis. The s106 contribution that developers are expected to make amounts to around £18,500 per dwelling, plus land for social infrastructure and affordable housing. This represents approximately one quarter of the total £1.2 billion infrastructure cost of the infrastructure development identified by MKP, with the remainder to be sought from mainstream and growth area public sector funding. Further details of the expected uses of such contributions over the next five years can be found in recent MKPC papers (in particular September and December 2005) available online at: http://www.mkweb.co.uk/mkpartnership/home.asp.

Housing Act 2004

Greg Pope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to issue guidance relating to the Housing Act 2004.

Yvette Cooper: The following table sets out the timetable for guidance relating to the Housing Act 2004. Guidance covering Wales is a matter for the National Assembly.
	
		Housing Act 2004: Timetable for guidance
		
			 Provision/Part Proposed/Actual publication date of guidance 
		
		
			 Part 1—Housing Conditions Statutory guidance for local authorities on the operation of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System was laid before Parliament on 28 November. Subject to the parliamentary procedure, it will be published before part 1 of the Act is implemented on 6 April, together with non-statutory guidance for other users of the rating system. 
			   
			 Parts 2, 3, 4 and 7—HMO and Selective Licensing The Act does not provide for formal guidance but explanatory information will be made available for landlords and tenants. It is also intended that informal advice will be issued to local authorities in due course. 
			   
			 Part 4—Empty Dwelling Management Orders March 2006 
			   
			 Part 5—Home Information Packs Draft SI The Home Information Pack Regulations 2006" and accompanying guidance published for consultation (consultation period ended 30 December 2005). Final version of regulations and guidance planned to be made in spring 2006. This will be supplemented by more general consumer guidance as part of planned publicity campaign on home information packs. 
			   
			 Part 6—Right to Buy modifications Guidance has been issued for the changes to Right to Buy. The guidance booklet entitled 'Your Right to Buy your home' was revised together with the relevant Right to Buy forms. Copies of these have been issued to local authorities and housing associations. 
			  Guidance on landlords' discretion not to require repayment of discount, which was clarified by section 185 of the Act, was also issued in January 2005. 
			   
			 Part 6—Suspension of certain rights in connection with antisocial behaviour ASB measures in part 6 of the Act commenced in June 2005. They include enabling local authorities to extend the period of introductory tenancies and withhold consent to mutual exchange on ASB grounds as well as measures to prevent tenants exercising the right to buy. We will be issuing a factsheet on these measures in the near future following commencement of associated regulations. 
			   
			 Part 6—Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessments We intend to publish guidance under section 226 of the Housing Act, in respect of section 225, which relates to the assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers, in January 2006. 
			   
			 Part 6—Tenant Deposit Protection Explanatory information to be issued from spring/summer 2006.

Park Homes

Greg Pope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to conclude the review of park homes legislation.

Yvette Cooper: The Government introduced several provisions in the Housing Act 2004, which came into force on 18 January 2005. These implement some of the key recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party. The provisions in the Act also allow us to insert further amendments to the Implied Terms and Written Statement. We expect to make regulations in early 2006 that insert further amendments.
	The remaining recommendations relate to the model standards, the commission payment and site licensing. We are currently consulting on proposed amendments to the model standards for park home sites, with a view to issuing the revised model standards by autumn 2006. We intend to consult on the commission payment during summer 2006. We consulted on proposals to amend the site licensing regime during spring 2005 and issued a summary of responses in summer 2005. The proposals require primary legislation. We will take this forward as soon as practicable.

Planning

David Gauke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rights of appeal residents have to a proposed development by a statutory undertaking in accordance with Schedule II, Part 17 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/418).

Yvette Cooper: Residents do not have a right of appeal in relation to the permitted development of statutory undertakers authorised by the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO). In exceptional circumstances a local planning authority may consider that normal planning control should apply to permitted development. The planning authority can make and submit to the Secretary of State, my right hon.. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister a direction under Article 4 ofthe GPDO seeking the removal of the particular permitted development right and requiring an application for planning permission. Each submission for an Article 4 direction is considered on its own merits.

Planning

David Gauke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many developments have been made by statutory undertakings in each of the last five years using powers contained in Schedule II, Part 17 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (S.I., 1995, No. 418).

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Planning

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which organisation will be responsible for the collection of the Planning-gain Supplement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Alongside the 2005 Pre-Budget Report, the Government published Planning-gain Supplement: a consultation as part of its response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply. Box 1.3 of the consultation paper highlighted the main features of the proposed Planning-gain Supplement (PGS), including that PGS would be payable under a self-assessment regime administered by HM Revenue and Customs.

Planning

Joe Benton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria his Department used in taking the decision that the Ikea application for a new store in the town of Bootle would result in a negative rating.

Yvette Cooper: The First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister called-in the application for an IKEA store at Dunnings Bridge Road, Netherton, Sefton as it was considered that the proposal might conflict with national policies on important matters, in particular retail policies as set out in PPS6. The applicant has now withdrawn the application.

Private Rented Accommodation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many students living in private rented accommodation were recorded in total in England on form CBT1 returned by local authorities on 21 October 2005.

Yvette Cooper: Information on the numbers of dwellings within each billing authority area that are subject to exemptions from council tax, or where some residents are disregarded for council tax purposes, are collected on the CTB1 (Supplementary) form. While some of the categories largely relate to students (e.g. exemption class N, for a dwelling which is occupied only by students, the foreign spouses of students, or school and colleague leavers"), they do not provide a basis for making reliable estimates of the number of students living in private rented accommodation. This is because it does not include other information such as the tenure of dwellings, and the number of students in each dwelling, that would be needed to make an estimate.

Regional Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1700W, on regional government 
	(1)  if the Government will review its classification of the regional chambers as voluntary bodies to take account of their new statutory powers and responsibilities over planning;
	(2)  whether the regional chambers are public authorities.

Yvette Cooper: Regional assemblies are bodies formed voluntarily within each region that have since been designated by Government to undertake specific activities. In the performance of these activities we would regard them as undertaking a public role and therefore need to be mindful of their duties, for example under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Right to Buy

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many right-to-buy completions there were in each London borough in each year since 1996–97.

Yvette Cooper: The number of right-to-buy completions in each London borough, for each of the most recent years can be found tabulated on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website (table 4) at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/embedded object.asp?id=l156373

Single Regeneration Budget Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role of appraisal panels in awarding development funding under the single regeneration budget scheme.

Yvette Cooper: The single regeneration budget consisted of six annual bidding rounds, running from 1995 to 2000. Government offices (and regional development agencies for rounds 5 and 6) were responsible for assessing bids received from applicants and making recommendations to Ministers.
	To assist with bid assessment, each Government office created an advisory panel of private and public sector experts to provide advice about the bids against the key assessment criteria set out in the bidding guidance for each round.
	Copies of the bidding guidance are available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Single Regeneration Budget Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines his Department publishes on the tendering process for the allocation of single regeneration budget development funding.

Phil Woolas: The single regeneration budget consisted of six annual bidding rounds, running from 1995 to 2000. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM) predecessor Departments published detailed bidding guidance on each round for prospective bidders.
	Copies of the bidding guidance are available on the ODPM website.

Town and Country Planning Act

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted during 2004 of an offence under section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Waste Management

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department issues to county councils on their legal obligations to collect household waste from April 2007 in cases where a borough council chooses not to participate in a waste management partnership scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Defra has not issued guidance on these particular circumstances. The duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for:
	district councils, as waste collection authorities, to collect household waste in their area and deliver it to their waste disposal authority; and,
	county councils, as waste disposal authorities, to arrange for the disposal of household waste collected by their district councils,
	continue to apply where a district council chooses not to participate in a waste management partnership scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Airspace (Extraordinary Rendition)

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his interview on the Today programme on 12 December 2005, what methodology was used to check the allegations made by Liberty to several chief constables, to which he referred, on the United States policy of rendition of detainees.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the Rt. hon. Member for North East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) on 12 December 2005 (Official Report, column 1652–1653 W) and to the Written Ministerial Statement my Rt. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave on 10 January (Official Report, column 5WS). These demonstrate that the US Government has sought the UK Government's permission before using UK airports and airspace for the purpose of rendition.
	Since before 11 September 2001, we have worked closely with the US to achieve our shared goal of fighting terrorism. As part of that close co-operation, we have made clear to the US authorities, including in recent months:
	that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace (including the Overseas Territories and Sovereign Bases);
	that we will grant permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations, and
	how we understand our obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.
	We are clear that the US would not render a detainee through the UK without our permission. It has sought such permission in the past: in some cases we have agreed, in others we have not, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear.

Belarus

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage a fair presidential election in Belarus in March.

Douglas Alexander: The Government continue to raise the issue of free and fair elections with the Belarusian authorities, both bilaterally and together with EU partners. At November's General Affairs External Relations Council meeting in Brussels, EU partners called for the Belarusian Government to issue an early invitation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights electoral monitoring mission, and stated the Council's willingness to take appropriate restrictive measures in the event of a failure to uphold international standards. A further discussion on Belarus will take place in January's Council meeting.

Burma

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent representations the British Government have made to Russia regarding (a) the situation in Burma and (b) placing Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council;
	(2)  what representations the Government have made to Russia regarding the sale of a nuclear reactor to Burma.

Ian Pearson: Both our ambassador in Rangoon and our Mission to the United Nations in New York regularly discuss the situation in Burma with their Russian counterparts. They are fully aware of our views. On 16 December 2005 United Nations Security Council members, including Russia, met with the UN Secretary-General and senior UN officials in informal consultations to consider the situation in Burma.
	The British ambassador has raised the issue of the possible sale of a Russian nuclear reactor to Burma with her Russian counterpart. There is no evidence that this matter has progressed beyond the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Burma

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by the (a) British Government and (b) European Commission of the effectiveness of the EU common position on Burma.

Ian Pearson: We consider that the best interests of the people of Burma continue to be served by a twin-track common position of targeted measures against members of the regime, and humanitarian support to the poorest and most vulnerable. With our European partners and the European Commission, we keep the common position under review.

Burma

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with Condeleeza Rice regarding the situation in Burma.

Ian Pearson: There have been no recent discussions with Condeleeza Rice regarding the situation in Burma. However, officials regularly discuss the situation in Burma with their counterparts in the United States.

Burma

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government recognises the National League for Democracy as the winners of the 1990 elections in Burma.

Ian Pearson: Yes.

Burma

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made in the past two years to companies importing Burmese goods into the UK.

Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no recent representations to companies importing goods into the UK, but our clear policy is not to encourage trade with Burma.

Caps Committee on Missing Person

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide further financial support to the Caps Committee on Missing Persons towards their general programme of exhumations and identifications due to start in Spring 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The United Nations search for missing persons in Cyprus is both a humanitarian priority and a rare prospect for reconciliation between the two communities on the island. In 2004, we donated US$50,000 towards what we hope will become a truly successful confidence building measure. More recently, we have informed the Committee on Missing Persons and the British charity INFORCE, which is assisting in the new phase of the Committee's work, that we are happy to provide further funding of up to £45,000. We expect that this contribution will go towards training forensic archaeologists from both communities in the necessary skills for continuing this important work.

China (Arms Embargo)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government supports the lifting of the EU embargo on arms exports to China.

Ian Pearson: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2061W.

Christian Minorities

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from Christian minority groups from (a) Burma, (b) China and (c) Pakistan.

Ian Pearson: We have received no recent representations from Christian minority groups from China and Pakistan. However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to receive correspondence from UK-based organisations about the treatment of Christians in these two countries.
	Officials at our embassy in Rangoon have frequent meetings with Christian and other minority groups in Burma. They have also provided funding to these groups for schools, orphanages and a peace and reconciliation project.
	We are concerned about the situation of religious freedom in all three countries and we regularly raise those concerns with their governments, bilaterally and with our international partners.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 5 December 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. T. Iqbal.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 9 January.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 5 December 2005 from the right hon.Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms R. Hughes.

Kim Howells: We have no record of having received this letter and have requested a copy from my right hon. Friend's office. My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will reply as soon as possible after a copy of the letter is received.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual expenditure on training and development by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Jack Straw: The approximate figures for expenditure on training and development are as follows:
	
		Foreign and Commonwealth Office
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2002–03 9,136 
			 2003–04 11,429 
			 2004–05 13,171 
			 2005–06 (Est.) 14,919 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Includes all training and development costs (including languages, ICT, security, consular and visa work), most training-related travel where separately identifiable.
	2.Excludes most staff costs, indirect and overhead costs.
	3.Figures apply to the FCO's staff in the UK (all in the South East of England) as well as diplomatic missions overseas.
	
		British Council -- £000
		
			   Of which: 
			  Total Scotland Wales England Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 2002–03 5,200 14 8 5,172 6 
			 2003–04 7,300 25 8 7,261 6 
			 2004–05 6,500 25 6 6,456 13 
			 2005–06 (Est.) 4,400 25 6 4,354 15 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Includes all direct costs and fees, travel and accommodation, project budgets relating to staff development and the indirect cost of staff attendance.
	2.Excludes apportionment of overhead costs.
	3.British Council figures are not broken down by English region.
	
		Wilton Park
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2002–03 15 
			 2003–04 16 
			 2004–05 15 
			 2005–06 (Est.) 23 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures apply to the South East of England.
	
		Westminster Foundation for Democracy
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2002–03 1 
			 2003–04 1 
			 2004–05 6 
			 2005–06 (Est.) 10 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures apply to the South East of England.
	No other non-departmental public bodies reported expenditure in any financial year over £1,000.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: Expenditure on refreshments can be identified only by examining individual transactions in the UK and at overseas Posts for the periods concerned. The information requested is not held centrally and could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by his Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

Jack Straw: The amount spent on salaries paid to UK based civil servants in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Financial year Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 127,942,176.19 
			 1998–99 128,674,412.28 
			 1999–2000 135,464,386.85 
			 2000–01 147,110,659.02 
			 2001–02 152,775,417.07 
			 2002–03 171,743,435.00 
			 2003–04 177,045,645.99 
			 2004–05 185,914,352.64

Departmental Functions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is a global network and carries out its core functions across the world through its 218 embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas. In the UK, policy and service delivery functions are carried out in London and the corporate function is split between London and Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian Pearson) gave to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1950W. The FCO does not identify its expenditure on administration costs by area.

Departmental Functions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what functions in his Department are carried out in Scotland; and what the administrative costs of these functions were in the last year for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is a global network which carries out its core functions across the world through its 218 embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas. The FCO has five officers working in the Glasgow office of UK Trade and Investment, a joint FCO and Department for Trade and Industry organisation. They are involved in assisting British companies in the gas and oil industries to find business abroad. The FCO does not identify its expenditure on administration costs by area.

Diplomatic Immunity

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 539W, on diplomatic immunity, if he will set out in his proposed written ministerial statement whether a prosecution for the offence was undertaken in the home country of the person holding the diplomatic immunity.

Jack Straw: Further to my written ministerial statement of 12 December 2005, Official Report, columns 127–29WS, it is not within our remit to set out whether a prosecution for the alleged offence was undertaken in the home country of the person entitled to immunity. We do all we can to ensure that alleged offences committed in the UK are fully investigated and, if there is justification, the outcome determined by the UK courts. Where the sending State refuses to waive immunity to enable a prosecution to take place in the UK, we ask for the withdrawal of the diplomat. Once the diplomat has left the UK we consider this an end to the matter. Foreign missions are not obliged to inform me of action taken once the alleged offender has left the United Kingdom.

Embassy Function (Incident)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2005, Official Report, column 1388W, on damages, what the nature was of the incident that led to burns sustained at an embassy function.

Jack Straw: The incident took place at a barbecue. Lighter fuel was spilled accidentally, ignited and burned the legs of a guest at the function.

Energy Supplies (Russia)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions in the past 12 months on which Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the Russian Government to discuss the security of energy supply to the United Kingdom and EU.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 12 January 2006
	On 4 October 2005, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary took part in bilateral discussions in London with President Putin and senior members of his government during which a substantial exchange on energy security issues took place. The energy sector formed an important part of the EU engagement with Russia under the UK Presidency. This was most prominent in discussions held during the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on 3 October 2005, co-chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and also on 4 October during the EU- Russia Summit, hosted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Energy security will also be a key theme for the Russian G8 Presidency during 2006 and in preparation for this, senior FCO officials met with Russian counterparts in September 2005 in Moscow for economic talks which included discussion of energy supply issues.

EU Military and Policing Operations

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what EU (a) military and (b) policing operations in countries outside the EU (i) are under way, (ii) are planned and (iii) have been carried out since 1997.

Jack Straw: Since 1997 the European Union has conducted three military operations under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP): Operation Concordia in Macedonia (March-December 2003), Operation Artemis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (June-September 2003) and Operation Althea in Bosnia, which was launched in December 2004 and is ongoing. At this moment there are no additional EU military operations being planned.
	There have been five ESDP civilian policing missions: the EU Police Mission in Bosnia (January 2003 to present); EUPOL Proxima in Macedonia (December 2003 to December 2005); the EU Police Advisory Team in Macedonia (December 2005 to present); EUPOL Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (April 2005 to present); and EUPOL COPPS, the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories. This last was launched on 1 January 2006 and is building on the work of the UK-led EU Coordination Office for Palestinian Policing Support. Current discussions about the EU's future role in Kosovo have included the possibility of a policing contribution.
	There is a range of other ESDP missions currently active covering security sector reform, rule of law, ceasefire monitoring and border monitoring. The EU can also provide support, including military and police resources, to another international organisation, as it is currently doing for the African Union Mission in Sudan operation in Darfur.
	Further details on all ESDP missions can be found on the FCO's website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename== OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c =Page&cid= l077042145284.

Hamas/Interpal

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether there are links between Hamas and Interpal; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Charity Commission has investigated Interpal on several occasions regarding their links with Hamas. They have found insufficient evidence to support taking action against Interpal.

Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received that Iran is removing control seals from nuclear installations.

Kim Howells: On 10 January, inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran had started to remove IAEA seals on enrichment-related equipment and material at its enrichment facility in Natanz. The IAEA expected the removal of seals at Natanz and at two related storage and testing locations to be completed by 11 January.

Iran

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing the return from Iran of the naval and military equipment seized by them in the Shatt-al Arab.

Kim Howells: We have raised the return of boats and equipment with the Iranian authorities on numerous occasions, at both Ministerial and senior official level, in Tehran and London. The British Ambassador in Tehran did so most recently on 12 December. Our discussions are continuing.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Iran's progress towards ratifying the Additional Protocol; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In the 'Tehran Statement' of 12 October 2003, Iran agreed to sign an additional protocol to its Safeguards Agreement, and to commence ratification procedures. It further stated that
	as a confirmation of its good intentions, the Iranian Government will continue to co-operate with the [International Atomic Energy] Agency (IAEA) in accordance with the Protocol in advance of its ratification".
	Iran signed the Additional Protocol on 18 December 2003. In the Paris Agreement of 15 November 2004, Iran again reaffirmed that it would
	continue to implement the Additional Protocol voluntarily pending ratification".
	Iran has not yet ratified the Protocol. In its most recent resolution on 24 September 2005, the IAEA Board of Governors urged Iran
	promptly to ratify and implement in full the Additional Protocol"
	and
	pending completion of the ratification of the Additional Protocol, to continue to act in accordance with the provisions".

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the progress made in the construction of the heavy water research reactor at Arak in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Dr. Mohammed El Baradei confirmed in his November 2005 report that the Agency had carried out a design information verification visit to Arak and noted that the civil engineering construction of the reactor building was continuing. In declarations to the IAEA, the Iranian government has stated that the facility should be ready for commissioning in 2014. We are not aware of any change to this timescale.
	We have made clear to the Iranians our concerns that this reactor design is not best suited to their declared research needs, but presents significant proliferation concerns in respect of its suitability for the production of weapons grade plutonium. This is why we have suggested to Iran for some time that it should acquire instead a research reactor moderated by light water. We made clear in our comprehensive proposal presented on 5 August 2005 that we would support them in doing this.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the return of British military equipment confiscated by Iran in the summer of 2004 was last raised by the UK Government's representative in Tehran; and what the result was of that discussion.

Kim Howells: We have raised the return of boats and equipment with the Iranian authorities on numerous occasions, at both Ministerial and senior official level, in Tehran and London. The British Ambassador in Tehran did so most recently on 12 December 2005. Our discussions are continuing.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the stage that has been achieved by the Iranian government in the development of nuclear weapons technology; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Iran is seeking to master enrichment technology. This would give it the capability to produce nuclear weapons grade enriched uranium. Iran's recent notification that it intends to resume research and development activity, including the introduction of nuclear material into enrichment centrifuges, is contrary to the calls expressed in repeated International Atomic Energy Agency Board resolutions and to Iran's own undertakings, and does nothing to resolve longstanding international concerns over Iranian government intentions.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 193W, on Iran, when he expects the explanatory meeting between Iran and the EU scheduled for 2006 to take place; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The E3/EU held exploratory talks with Iran on 21 December aimed at establishing whether a basis could be agreed for resuming negotiations on long-term arrangements for Iran's nuclear programme. We made crystal clear that a resumption of negotiations would only be possible if Iran refrained from any further erosion of its suspension of enrichment related and reprocessing activities, including research and development on enrichment.
	Iran's decision to restart enrichment related activity on 9 January was a clear rejection of the diplomatic process the E3/EU and Iran have been engaged in for over two years with the support of the international community. In addition, it constitutes a further challenge to the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international community. We have, therefore, decided to inform the IAEA Board of Governors that our discussions with Iran have reached an impasse.

Iraq

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department has given to the Iraq Oil Ministry on the introduction of production sharing agreements.

Kim Howells: The contractual arrangements for future oil exploration and production are a decision for the incoming Iraqi Government and the Government have not sought to influence this decision. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office did support a 2003 independent study which set out the full range of possible contractual financing arrangements to allow the rehabilitation and development of the Iraqi oil industry.
	Under the outgoing Iraqi Transitional Government, the Ministry of Oil was clear that the option of concluding Production Sharing Agreements would be one of a range of contracts that might be needed to help redevelop the oil industry. This is because after decades of isolation, Iraq has weak technical and managerial capacity combined with an ageing infrastructure with severely outdated production facilities. Furthermore, there has been no explorations for new fields since the 1980s and limited post-2003 investment and poor maintenance. Given the state of the infrastructure, and the US$20 billion needed for reconstruction of the oil industry, it is highly unlikely that the Iraqi Government will be able to fund investment in the oil industry itself. Without the needed investment the oil industry will not be able to fuel the required sustainable economic growth in Iraq.
	The Government reiterates, however, that the decision as to whether to conclude a Production Sharing Agreement will be for the Iraqi Government to decide.

Israel

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last met Israeli officials to discuss the security wall; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The British ambassador in Tel Aviv last raised our concerns on the route of the barrier with the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 December.
	We fully recognise Israel's right to self-defence. A barrier is a reasonable way to achieve this. But the barrier's route should be on or behind the Green Line, and not on occupied territory. Construction of the barrier on Palestinian land is illegal. The route is particularly damaging around Jerusalem, as it risks cutting the city off from the west bank and dividing the west bank in two.
	We will continue to raise our concerns over the barrier with the Israeli Government at all levels.

Israel

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of a pre-emptive strike by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in the House on 10 January that he had
	made it clear that military action is not on our agenda, and I do not believe that in practice it is on anybody else's agenda."

Kashmir

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Governments of India and Pakistan on including representatives of the people of Kashmir in the next round of peace talks.

Kim Howells: The UK supports the on-going Composite Dialogue process between the two countries. This aims to resolve all of their outstanding differences, including over Kashmir. For any such settlement to be durable, we believe that the views of the Kashmiris must be taken into account, and we continue to raise this with our Pakistani and Indian interlocutors. We therefore welcome the steps taken so far by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate a dialogue with Kashmiri separatists, and are aware of reports that a second round of talks may begin early this year.

Moldova

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Moldova.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Moldova.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding was contributed by his Department to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in each year since 2001.

Kim Howells: The United Kingdom's total contributions to the activities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe were £17.3 million in 2001–02, £20.4 million in 2002–03, £24.8 million in 2003–04 and £24.8 million in 2004–05.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan on the growth in the number of cases being brought before the courts for the charge of blasphemy.

Kim Howells: We make regular representations to the Government of Pakistan regarding the Blasphemy Laws. In December 2005 the UK and EU Partners de"marche raised its concerns with the Government of Pakistan about the 19 cases of Blasphemy registered in 2005. With our European Union partners we encourage the Government of Pakistan to repeal or modify the Blasphemy Laws to remove the possibility of the Laws being misused.

Palestinian Authority

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Government funding for the Palestinian Authority is made (a) through the World Bank Trust Fund and (b) directly to the Palestinian Authority.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	DFID provides support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) budget through the Reform Trust Fund managed by the World Bank. Since the fund's inception in January 2004 total DFID funding has amounted to £12 million. Funding is conditional on the achievement of benchmarks for reform, progress against which is carefully monitored. Through this process the Reform Trust Fund has helped the PA to improve its financial control and management.
	DFID also provides financial aid and technical assistance to the PA in the areas of public administration and reform, budgeting and planning, security sector reform, statistics, and the water sector.

Public Diplomacy Review

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to respond to Lord Carter of Coles's Public Diplomacy Review.

Jack Straw: In my written ministerial statement to the House on 15 December 2005, I welcomed the recommendations made in the noble Lord Carter of Coles's Review. I wrote to the noble Lord on 14 December 2005 making this clear. Public Diplomacy is a vital part of our work in promoting UK interests overseas. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to working closely with Public Diplomacy partners to achieve maximum impact from our public diplomacy activity. Work has already begun on implementation of the recommendations. I intend to keep the Foreign Affairs Committee informed of progress.

Sharm El Sheikh Bomb Attacks

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether assistance given by his Department to the families of the victims of the Sharm El Sheikh bomb attacks in July was in line with his Department's usual practice;
	(2)  what assistance was given by his Department to the families of the victims of the Sharm El Sheikh bomb attacks in July.

Jack Straw: The assistance given to the families of the victims of the Sharm El Sheikh bomb attacks incorporated the experience and lessons learnt from previous incidents.
	The British ambassador in Cairo led a team to the scene arriving eight hours after the bombings; a rapid deployment team from London (including trained Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) volunteers, the police, Red Cross and medical personnel) arrived within 24 hours. Further police staff for disaster victim identification deployed to Sharm El Sheikh the following day. A call handling centre was set up in the FCO within one hour of our hearing of the incident, with calls being transferred later in the day to the West Midlands police who acted on our behalf in the UK throughout the crisis on call handling, and on family liaison issues.
	On the ground, we set up an office and provided support to survivors and visiting families, helped to arrange medical evacuations and, liaising with the tour companies, arranged for survivors to be flown home. We also helped to locate and repatriate those who died in this tragedy. Throughout, we worked closely with the Egyptian authorities.
	The FCO also has in place a package of immediate assistance measures to help victims of terrorism overseas and their families in the immediate aftermath of an incident such as this. These measures were made available to the families affected.

South Africa (Chemical Weapons Data)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the South African Government has requested (a) information and (b) assistance from the UK Government in seeking to ascertain the extent of information or help extended by the Chemical Weapons Establishment at Porton Down to Wouter Basson during the period of the apartheid regime; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the former Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Dr. Denis MacShane) gave him on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 94W.

Spain

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Spain.

Douglas Alexander: My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to visit Spain.

Staffing Costs

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the staffing costs of each (a) embassy and (b) consulate were in the last year for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: I am placing the information requested for the financial year 2003–04 in the Library of the House.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use by the Sudanese authorities of amputation as a deterrent for crimes; and what representations he has made to them to end such punishment.

Ian Pearson: The UK believes that extreme punishments such as stoning, amputation and execution under Sharia law are wholly inconsistent with international human rights standards. We regularly raise with the Government of Sudan the need to respect human rights and abide by international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We are also pressing the Government of Sudan, both bilaterally and through multilateral forums such as the EU-Sudan Human Rights Dialogue, to ratify and implement human rights treaties to which it is not a party, including the UN Convention Against Torture.
	Under the terms of the new Sudanese constitution, Sharia law, which allows for corporal punishment such as amputations, will apply in the states of Northern Sudan, but not Southern Sudan. The constitution also specifies that in the national capital non-Muslims shall not be subject to Sharia law, and that a Specialist Committee will ensure that Non-Muslims are not adversely affected by the application of the Sharia law in the National Capital. This committee was formed on 4 January 2006.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to help resolve the dispute between the North and South of Sudan over the allocation of oil wells; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Under the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), revenue from oil resources shall be shared equally between the National Government and the Government of South Sudan, with a contribution going to the oil producing state. The Commission to define the boundaries of Southern Sudan in accordance with the CPA was established on 8 September 2005.
	The National Petroleum Commission, comprising members of the National Congress Party, the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement and oil producing states, is tasked to formulate, monitor and assess policies on the petroleum sector, negotiate all new oil contracts and ensure transparency in the handling of all oil revenues. The UK is providing financial support to this commission.
	We are pressing the parties to resolve any disputes using the mechanisms provided by the CPA. The UK also holds a seat on the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC), which monitors implementation of the CPA. The parties to the CPA have the right to bring any disputes to the AEC for its recommendations, although no cases have yet been brought.

Terrorist Suspects (Guantanamo Bay)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has (a) received and (b) made to theUnited States Administration on behalf of Bisher Al-Rawi and Jamil Al-Banna currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Kim Howells: While it is long-standing policy that we cannot provide consular assistance for individuals who are not British nationals, we agreed exceptionally in March and April 2005 to meet the families of the five detainees in Guantanamo Bay whom we knew were resident in the UK, but who are not British citizens. My noble Friend the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, met the families and representatives of Bisher Al-Rawi on 5 April 2005 and of Jamil Al-Banna on 19 April 2005. We passed the concerns expressed to us by the families to the US authorities. We were additionally asked to submit an amicus curiae brief on behalf of these five detainees in court proceedings in the United States. We gave careful consideration to this request, but concluded that the most effective way to achieve real improvements to the situation of the detainees was through continuing discussions about Guantanamo and detainee policy with the US authorities.
	We continue to receive correspondence from members of the public and others who have concerns about Guantanamo Bay, including about detainees who were resident in the UK. We have always made clear that we regard the circumstances under which detainees are continuing to be held in Guantanamo Bay as unacceptable. The US Government knows our views. We will continue to raise our concerns at official and ministerial level, and to work with the US authorities to resolve the issues of concern to us.

Uganda

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he plans to have with Ugandan President Museveni about the imprisonment of opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the case of Dr. Besigye when he met President Museveni at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Valetta at the end of November 2005. My noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and our High Commissioner in Uganda have underlined the need for a transparent and fair civilian trial at the highest level of the Ugandan Government. We are encouraged that Dr. Besigye was released on bail on 2 January.

UK Ambassador (Buenos Aires)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the works of art stolen from the UK ambassador's temporary residence in Buenos Aires in August 2001; what the value was of each item; and if he will make a statement on (a) the security arrangements in place at the time of the robbery and (b) any changes subsequently made.

Jack Straw: In August 2001, our ambassador in Buenos Aires moved to a temporary residence in order that the principal residence be refurbished. During this move, a number of works of art were stolen from the ambassador's temporary residence shortly before it was occupied. These were:
	Offering to Jupiter" painting by Michael Rocca, value £80,000.
	Lake Landscape" painting by George Arnauld, value £35,000.
	St. James's Park and Banqueting Rooms" painting by Anthony Higmore, value £60,000.
	Landscape" painting by Edward Charles Williams, value £60,000.
	Sir Woodbine Parish" painting by Edmund Dyer (after Thomas Phillips RA), value £5,000.
	Immediately following this incident, a full police investigation was initiated. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not comment on specific security measures taken to protect its missions and residences overseas. However, the FCO takes the security of our staff and official premises very seriously and security arrangements at all our posts are regularly reviewed, including after incidents of this nature.

UK Embassies/Consulates

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of running each (a) embassy and (b) consulate in the last year for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: I am placing details of the cost of each post in the Library of the House.

US Administration (Rendition)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the wording of questions (a) he and (b) his officials have put to the US Administration about rendition in each of the last six months.

Kim Howells: It is not usual practice to make public the content of confidential ministerial or official exchanges with our international partners. We discuss security and human rights issues with the United States on a regular basis.
	Since before 11 September 2001, we have worked closely with the US to achieve our shared goal of fighting terrorism. As part of that close co-operation, we have made clear to the US authorities, including in recent months:
	that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace (including Overseas Territories and Sovereign Bases);
	that we will grant permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations; and
	how we understand our obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.

West Papua

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the source was of the advice to his Department that the recent use of Tactica water cannon vehicles by police in West Papua was for the purpose of dispersing a violent incident during which demonstrators were seeking to cause criminal damage to a public facility.

Ian Pearson: Following reports that Tactica water cannon had been used in Papua, an embassy official visited Papua and spoke to local community leaders and non-governmental organisations there.

West Papua

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what lines of inquiry his Department is pursuing to investigate the events that led to Tactica water cannon vehicles being used recently by police in West Papua on demonstrators, in addition to information from the Indonesian Government.

Ian Pearson: The British embassy has followed up reports that Tactica water cannon were used in Papua by speaking to a number of local community leaders and non-governmental organisations about the use of water cannon in Papua.

West Papua

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1562W, on West Papua, what the reasons are for not making the reports available to (a) the public and (b) hon. Members; what his response would be to a freedom of information request for the same documents; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Release of political reporting would cause harm to the effective conduct of international relations as it depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between Governments and international organisations. This relationship allows for the free and frank exchange of information on the understanding that it will be treated in confidence. By releasing information that they have provided strictly in confidence, there is a possibility that they would refuse to share similar information in the future. This would harm the UK's ability to protect and promote its interests through international relations, which there is a strong public interest in maintaining. For these reasons we consider that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.
	These reasons apply equally if the reports were requested for release to the public, to Parliament or through Freedom of Information Act requests.

Wouter Basson

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations have been carried out as a result of the statement by South Africa's Deputy Defence Minister Kasrils that Wouter Basson obtained information from the United Kingdom in support of the apartheid regime's chemical and biological weapons programme; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Following allegations that the Government was involved in providing information to personnel connected to South Africa's Chemical and Biological Weapons programme, the Government conducted full investigations into the allegations made. There was no evidence to suggest UK Government officials knowingly provided assistance to any South African Chemical and Biological Weapons programme.

Wouter Basson

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons were for each of the three de"marches made by and on behalf of the UK Government to (a) President Mandela and (b) the South African Government in respect of Wouter Basson; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: De"marches were made to the South African Government to highlight the Government's concerns about the onward proliferation risk of any remaining records or expertise relating to offensive Chemical and Biological Weapons programmes, and to encourage South Africa to submit a confidence building measure return to the United Nations in respect of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bill of Rights

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress made in implementing the proposal to establish a round-table forum to progress the debate about a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: I wrote to all Northern Ireland political party leaders on 28 December 2005 inviting each of them to meet with me to discuss their views on how we can work to build cross-community support for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Civil Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from which Departments of the Northern Ireland Office officials responsible for the Department's e-Business strategies were represented on the project board for the Northern Ireland civil service e-HR contract.

Angela Smith: The Government Departments from which officials responsible for the e-Business strategies were represented on the project board for the Northern Ireland civil service e-HR contract are as follows:
	Department of Employment and Learning;
	Department of Education;
	the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister and
	the Department of Enterprise Trade and Industry.

Correspondence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the letter dated 11 November 2005 from the hon. Member for North Down in relation to the Mental Health Unit at Ards hospital.

Shaun Woodward: There is no record of a letter dated 11 November 2005 being received by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the Mental Health Unit at Ards Hospitals.

Dentistry

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dental practices in Northern Ireland ceased to operate within the NHS during 2005.

Shaun Woodward: During 2005 two dental surgeries closed. In the first case, the dental contractor owned a second surgery and the registered patient list transferred to the contractor's other surgery. In the second case, all the registered patients were transferred to another NHS dental provider in the near vicinity.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken by the Department to support staff with mental ill health.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office provides emotional support, advice and factual information in a confidential manner to staff with mental ill health.
	Occupational health services are available to help employees remain effective in work or to facilitate the successful return to work.
	Two Northern Ireland Office Agencies offer staff an employee assistance programme, counselling and psychotherapy services.

Electricity Supply

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure continuity of supply to Northern Ireland electricity consumers following the recent problems at Coolkeeragh Power Station.

Angela Smith: In order to meet Northern Ireland's electricity demand during the current unavailability of Coolkeeragh power station, Northern Ireland's available generating capacity is being augmented by imports from Great Britain via the Moyle Interconnector and by energy trades with the Republic of Ireland via the North-South interconnector. In addition, Northern Ireland Electricity plc has taken steps to help maintain electricity supplies by ensuring that adequate stocks of back-up fuel are held at the Ballylumford and Kilroot power stations.
	Coolkeeragh is in the process of resolving its current problem and expects to be able to generate again by 20 January 2006.

Health Boards (Agency Staff)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the costs have been to each health board of employing private agency staff in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The bulk of the costs in question are incurred by the 19 HSS trusts. The information provided in the table relates agency expenditure to a trust's host Board i.e. the area in which each trust is located.
	
		£000
		
			 Board 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 EHSSB 14,822 16,503 19,428 
			 NHSSB 3,247 8,209 8,258 
			 SHSSB 1,272 1,108 811 
			 WHSSB 2,777 3,506 4,522 
			 Total 22,118 29,326 33,019 
		
	
	In addition, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, in providing its regional service, incurred expenditure on agency staff of £267,000 and £306,000 in the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 respectively. It incurred no such expenditure in 2002–03.

Hospital Parking

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many car parking spaces were provided by (a) Belfast City Hospital, (b) Mater Infirmorum Hospital, (c) the Royal Group of Hospitals and (d) Ulster Hospital in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was raised through parking charges by each hospital in that year.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of parking spaces Amount generated for Trusts in 2004–05 
		
		
			 Belfast City Hospital 1,080 623,000 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 357 117,000 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 2,311 0 
			 Ulster Hospital 1,082 357,000 
		
	
	Parking at the Royal Group of Hospitals is operated by Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and the car parking charges do not generate any income for the Trust.

Hospitals (Delayed Discharges)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the rate of delayed discharge was in each major hospital in Northern Ireland on the last date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The rate of delayed discharge, within each hospital who had any delayed discharges at 31 March 2005, is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Hospital Rate of delayed discharge (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Belfast City Hospital 3.77 
			 Musgrave Park Hospital 3.77 
			 Forster Green 2.42 
			 Ulster Hospital 6.62 
			 Bangor 10.15 
			 Royal Victoria Hospital 4.54 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 2.43 
			 Lagan Valley Hospital 3.39 
			 Downe Hospital 10.28 
			 Robinson Memorial Hospital 8.00 
			 Dalriada 9.38 
			 Causeway 7.34 
			 Moyle Hospital 42.32 
			 Whiteabbey Hospital 16.17 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 11.78 
			 Antrim Hospital 4.74 
			 Braid Valley Hospital 53.05 
			 South Tyrone Hospital 19.51 
			 Mullinure 8.33 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 0.80 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 3.43 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 2.57 
			 Erne Hospital 4.15 
			   
			 NI Average Rate 5.82 
		
	
	Notes:
	Rate of delayed discharge is calculated by dividing the number of delayed discharges as at 31 March 2005 by the average number of available beds over the period 2004–05 for each hospital.
	Source:
	Hospital Information Branch

Invest NI

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investment was made in Strangford constituency in the last five years by Invest NI; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: During the past five years from April 2000 to March 2005, Invest NI, and its predecessor agencies offered assistance worth £9.5 million to businesses within the Strangford parliamentary constituency area. This contributed towards a total planned investment of £42.6 million.
	This includes £1.4 million assistance offered to inward investment projects within Strangford, contributing towards a planned investment of £6.3 million.
	The Invest NI Local Office Network actively promotes enterprise and business start-ups in the area through partnerships with local business development bodies and the district councils. The Start a Business Programme has supported 667 locally focused business starts within Strangford since September 2001 to date. These are estimated to produce an associated additional investment within the Strangford area of almost £6.7 million.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many people are employed as researchers by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency;
	(2)  when payment of the last annual wage increase commenced for researchers within the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Angela Smith: Staff working in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency are employed by the Department of Finance and Personnel. At the end of December 2005 none of those staff were graded as researchers.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency holds to collect statistics.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency currently holds two contracts:
	Contract to undertake the Northern Ireland Household Panel Study (waves 5 through to 8).
	Contract to undertake sweep 3 of the Millennium Cohort Study.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the stepsbeing taken to resolve the current pay disputes within the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Angela Smith: The chief executive of NISRA has sought delegated authority for the pay of survey interviewers with a view to resolving the outstanding pay issue for this group. The relevant trade union has been consulted on this issue and its views are currently being considered by the Department.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency; and how many of these are regarded as employees of the Northern Ireland civil service.

Angela Smith: The number of staff working in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency at the end of December 2005 was 369, of whom 110 were graded as administrative staff and 242 were graded as statisticians. In addition, NISRA had 17 other staff (including students) on a casual basis. NISRA also has a field-force of 298 fee-paid survey interviewers who have a non-guaranteed hours contract unique to their role.
	All staff working in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency are employed by the Department of Finance and Personnel, a Department of the Northern Ireland civil service.
	The status of the interviewers is that they are employees of the Department but are not employed under the full range of terms and conditions of service applicable to civil servants.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency has lost in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency has not lost any contracts in the last three financial years.

Pathways to Work

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Pathways to Work pilots are being carried out in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Three Pathways to Work pilot programmes are currently under way in Northern Ireland in Ballymoney, Lurgan and Magherafelt. An announcement on future expansion of Pathways to Work will be made alongside publication of details of the Skills and Science fund shortly.

Police Training Centre

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when work is expected to commence on-site for the new police training centre for Northern Ireland; and when building work is likely to be completed.

Shaun Woodward: Subject to final decisions on the most appropriate funding arrangement the police hope to commence construction of the new Police College in the summer of 2007. We anticipate building will take some 2–3 years.

Premature Deaths

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of the number of premature deaths in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Upper Bann caused by smoking.

Angela Smith: The number of premature deaths caused by smoking is not available in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Upper Bann. as smoking history is rarely recorded on death certificates.
	However, Northern Ireland level estimates can be made of the total number of deaths attributed to smoking by using information on the contribution that smoking makes to specific conditions recorded at death. The Health Development Agency 1 published the most recent estimates for Northern Ireland in 2004. This report estimated that in Northern Ireland each year over the period 1998 to 2002, 2,300 deaths can be attributed to smoking.
	1 Twigg, L., Moon, G., and Walker, S. The smoking epidemic in England, Health Development Agency, 2004 (http://www.publichealth.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o= 502811).

Pre-School Provision Report

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the review of effective pre-school provision in Northern Ireland commissioned by the Department of Education concluded with respect to different pre-school settings and their respective impacts on children's development.

Angela Smith: The effective pre-school provision in Northern Ireland (EPPNI) project found that attending a pre-school setting, compared to none, enhances all-round development for all children, and that children benefit more from nursery school, nursery class or playgroup provision than from other types of pre-school provision.

Pre-School Provision Report

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Education will publish the findings of the effective pre-school provision in Northern Ireland study.

Angela Smith: The report of the effective pre-school provision in Northern Ireland (EPPNI) project is expected to be published by the end of February 2006.

School Transport Costs

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils receive home-to-school transport in each of the board areas to (a) controlled schools, (b) maintained schools, (c) grant-maintained schools, (d) Irish-medium schools, (e) special schools, (f) voluntary grammar schools and (g) further education colleges; and what the cost per pupil is in each category.

Angela Smith: The education and library boards provided home to school and college transport to pupils broken down as follows:
	
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB 
			 Schools 2004–05 Pupils Unit cost (£) Pupils Unit cost (£) Pupils Unit cost (£) Pupils Unit cost (£) Pupils Unit cost (£) 
		
		
			 Controlled and Maintained 1,135 679 19,412 633 16,236 500 24,759 540 22,775 491 
			 Integrated 1,272 447 1,547 687 1,895 506 1,349 720 1,877 458 
			 Irish-Medium 83 446 77 2,052 77 792 73 1,274 154 901 
			 Special 1,554 1,829 1,066 2,560 1,518 2,899 466 2,888 754 716 
			 FE Colleges 2003–04(12) 395 268 3,999 223 1,367 485 2,331 443 1,515 456 
		
	
	(12)While details on schools are in respect of the 2004–05 financial year the latest available data with regard to FE colleges relates to the 2003–04 financial year.
	Note:
	Current statistics do not differentiate between pupils attending controlled, maintained and voluntary grammar schools. Also it is assumed the request in respect of grant-maintained schools is a reference with regard to integrated schools.

Sports Stadium

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of locating the new sports stadium for Northern Ireland at Ormeau Park in Belfast.

David Hanson: Between May and September 2004, the Strategic Investment Board, on behalf of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure undertook a technical site evaluation exercise to help identify a suitable location for a multi-sports stadium for Northern Ireland. Ormeau Park in Belfast was assessed as part of this evaluation but was rejected due to planning and access problems with the site.

Temporary Housing

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken by the Department of Social Development where the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has been found to be providing unsuitable or unsafe temporary dwelling for tenants whose permanent dwellings are undergoing improvement works.

David Hanson: This is an operational matter falling within the day to day responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. However, if such an occurrence were to be drawn to the Department's attention, the Housing Executive would be asked to take remedial action as quickly as possible. I understand that a problem has been identified in the Coleraine area where residents have complained about the condition of mobile homes which are being used for decanting purposes. I am advised that with the exception of one of these mobile homes where dampness was discovered they are fit for habitation. They are, however, hard to heat in the winter and I have asked the Housing Executive, therefore, to address this issue.

Water Charges/Service

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost will be of financing the implementation of the charging and billing system for new separate water charges; and who will be responsible for those costs.

Shaun Woodward: The total cost of financing the implementation of the charging and billing system is estimated at £15.9 million, with the cost being borne by the Department for Regional Development. The new systems, which form part of the reform programme to improve the efficiency and quality of water and sewerage services, will provide a customer contact centre and collect water and sewerage charges from domestic and non-domestic customers. When the new charges are fully phased in this will allow up to £300 million per year to be allocated to other public services in Northern Ireland.

Water Charges/Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid in (a) wages and (b) overtime in each of the Water Service telemetry centres in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 13 January 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how much was paid in (a) wages and (b) overtime in each of the Water Service telemetry centres in each of the last three years (40641). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	A breakdown of the total wage costs for the Water Service's 4 telemetry centres during the financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04 is set out below. As part of the changes in the financial reporting procedures, occasioned by Water Service's reorganisation into a functionalised structure in 2004–05, the wage costs for all of the telemetry centres were grouped together under a single cost centre. It would therefore be difficult to extract a breakdown of the costs for 2004–05 across the 4 telemetry centres without a lengthy and costly manual exercise.
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 Telemetry centre Wages Overtime Other pay costs(13) Wages Overtime Other pay costs(13) Total pay cost 
		
		
			 Marlborough House (Craigavon) 62,400 36,400 55,100 66,100 37,800 55,800 143,800 
			 Altnagelvin (Londonderry) 72,300 28,700 51,400 55,300 36,400 47,500 139,700 
			 Academy House (Ballymena) 71,400 39,700 53,600 73,500 43,400 57,300 132,200 
			 Westland House (Belfast) 54,600 56,300 51,500 (14)56,000 (14)57,700 (14)52,800 179,100 
		
	
	(13)Other pay costs include—Allowances, Employers National Insurance and Superannuation costs.
	(14)The Westland House costs for 2003–04 are estimated—actual costs are not readily available.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academic Performance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on academic performance by (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils in (i) Somerset schools, (ii) England and (iii) the south west.

Jacqui Smith: The 2005 national results show that standards in both primary and secondary schools are continuing to rise, with improvements at every key stage this year. Since 1997 at key stage 2, English has increased by 16 percentage points (pp) to 79 per cent. and in maths by 13 pp to 75 per cent.. Provisional results at key stage 3 show English has increased by 17 pp to 74 per cent.; in maths by 14 pp to 74 per cent.; in science by 10 pp to 60 per cent.; and in ICT by 19 pp to 69 per cent. At key stage 4 provisional results show the percentage of pupils achieving 5+A*-C GCSEs has increased by 10.6 pp to 55.7 per cent.
	Standards of educational attainment in both primary and secondary schools in (a) Somerset and (b) the south west show that performance is above that of the national average. A summary of the 2005 outcomes is set out in the following table.
	Information about education and skills by constituency is made available by the Department through the 'In Your Area' web site, available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea.
	
		Performance level(15)
		
			  Primary—KS2 percentage achieved level 4+ Secondary—KS3 percentage achieved level 5+ Secondary—KS4 percentage achieved 5+ A*-C 
			  English Maths Science English Maths Science ICT GCSE or equivalent 
		
		
			 Somerset(16) 80 76 88 77 77 75 75 57.9 
			 National 79 75 86 74 74 70 69 55.7 
			 South West 79 75 87 75 75 73 72 55.8 
		
	
	(15)Data for KS2 is amended. For KS3 and KS4 data are provisional.
	(16)Overall figures for Bath and NE Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset local authorities.

Administrative Costs

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Maria Eagle: All the core functions of the Department of Education and Skills are carried out in England at four locations, one of which is London. The Department and HM Treasury do not monitor administration costs by region. Further details of the Department's expenditure, including administration expenditure, are outlined in the Department for Education and Skills' Departmental Report 2005, a copy of which is available in the House Library (Cm6522).

Administrative Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total administrative costs for her core Department are; and whether these are regarded as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses.

Bill Rammell: The total administration costs for the Department are outlined in Annex E of the Department for Education and Skills' Departmental Report 2005, a copy of which is available in the House Library (Cm6522). All administration costs are identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses.

Administrative Costs

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administrative costs were of each agency for which she has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs areregarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills is not responsible for any agencies. Further details of the Department's expenditure are outlined in the Department for Education and Skills' departmental report 2005, a copy of which is available in the House Library (Cm6522).

Administrative Costs

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administrative costs were of each non-departmental public body for which she has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Bill Rammell: The administrative costs for 2004–05 of those non-departmental public bodies for which the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has responsibility are listed as follows. All of these costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as identifiable costs.
	
		Net administration costs of non-departmental public bodies(17)(5508620018)
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Adult Learning Inspectorate 25,818 
			 British Educational Communications and Technology  Agency 15,460 
			 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service 105,304 
			 Higher Education Funding Council for England 18,304 
			 Investors in People 2,297 
			 Learning and Skills Council 212,257 
			 National College for School Leadership 17,677 
			 Office for Fair Access(19) 410 
			 Partnership for Schools(19) 7,667 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority 41,141 
			 Sector Skills Development Agency 5,715 
			 Student Loans Company(20) 48,337 
			 Training and Development Agency for Schools 14,476 
			 Construction Industry Training Board(21) 39,844 
			 Engineering Construction Industry Training Board(21) 93 
			 Total 554,800 
		
	
	(17)Receipts relating to administration costs have been deducted.
	(18)Out-turn figures are from individual NDPB annual accounts.
	(19)The Office for Fair Access and Partnership for Schools are new NDPBs set up in 2004–05.
	(20)The SLC administration figures are for the whole of the UK and include contributions from Scotland and Ireland.
	(21)Funded by industry levies and not from DfES funds.

Cassels Report

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to implement the recommendation of Sir John Cassels in 2001 that a clearing house be developed for prospective apprentices and employers; when she expects to implement such a system; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: We are committed to implementing the recommendation of a clearing house from the Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee report in 2001, and are currently working with the Learning and Skills Council to build on good practice from the various local, regional and sector-based models that are already operating. Our plans for 14–19 reform include significant engagement with employers, and we are considering a form of clearing house which will incorporate other opportunities for young people to gain experience in the workplace, such as work placements. The recently published 14–19 Implementation Plan states our intention to develop a clearing house by 2007/08.

Child Care Bodies

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many regulatory bodies for which her Department has responsibility regulate child care; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: One. Ofsted regulates child care in England for children under eight. Through the Childcare Bill currently before Parliament, we are taking forward the commitments in our 10-year child care strategy published in December 2004 on reforming the regulation and inspection of child care.

Children's Centres

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres opened in each year from 1999–2000; how many she expects will open in each year to 2010–11; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: No Sure Start Children's Centres were opened between 1999–2002. Local authorities were asked to start planning the development of Children's Centres in February 2003 and 67 centres were designated in 2003–04. An additional 163 centres were designated in 2004–05, and we expect a further 600 centres to be designated in 2005–06. Local authorities are still developing plans for children centre delivery for 2006–08, and a breakdown of numbers of centres to be opened in these years is not centrally available. However, by the end of this period we expect at least 2,500 to be designated. The Government intend to develop 3,500 Sure Start children's centres by 2010. This will mean every community in England will have a children centre co-ordinating a range of integrated services for pre-school children and their parents.

Constructivist Approaches to Learning

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has carried out on the efficacy of constructivist approaches to learning.

Beverley Hughes: The Department has not commissioned any research exploring the efficacy of constructivist approaches to learning.

Degree Courses

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students were admitted onto degree courses in each year since 1997–98, broken down by (a) socio-economic class and (b) ethnic group.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the following tables. The figures are taken from data collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) which are limited to students who apply to full-time first degree courses via the UCAS application system. The figures do not therefore cover part-time students nor those full-time students who apply directly to Higher Education Institutions.
	
		(a) Number of UK domiciled students accepted onto full-time degree courses by UK higher education institutions 
		
			  by social class 
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 
		
		
			 Total number accepted 276,505 272,340 277,340 281,810 298,055 
			 Of which:  
			 I. Professional 37,760 36,850 37,250 37,305 38,195 
			 II. Intermediate 109,020 107,695 108,030 109,820 113,285 
			 IIIN. Skilled non-manual 34,090 32,475 33,215 34,515 35,525 
			 IIIM. Skilled manual 39,695 39,505 39,920 39,780 43,570 
			 IV. Partly skilled 20,850 20,345 20,585 21,590 20,795 
			 V. Unskilled 4,895 4,605 4,770 4,805 4,885 
			 Unknown 30,195 30,870 33,570 33,995 41,800 
		
	
	
		
			  by socio-economic group 
			  2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Total number accepted 309,460 316,240 320,535 
			 Of which:
			 1. Higher managerial and professional 59,425 58,035 58,595 
			 2. Lower managerial and professional 79,660 80,180 82,310 
			 3. Intermediate occupations 39,835 38,930 39,500 
			 4. Small employers 18,525 18,845 18,950 
			 5. Lower supervisory/technical 11,835 12,695 12,540 
			 6. Semi-routine 31,895 33,065 33,930 
			 7. Routine 14,310 14,015 14,335 
			 Unknown 53,970 60,480 60,375 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5 so components may not sum to totals.
	2.The classification used to record the social background of students changed between academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03, and so the two sets of data in these tables are not directly comparable.
	Source:
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
	
		(b) Number of UK domiciled students accepted onto full-time degree courses by UK higher education institutions, by ethnic group
		
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 
		
		
			 Total number accepted 276,505 272,340 277,340 281,810 
			 Of which: 
			 Asian 22,665 23,540 25,050 26,990 
			 Black 8,330 7,980 8,350 8,910 
			 White 224,450 216,880 219,920 222,045 
			 Other 4,215 4,215 4,600 5,110 
			 Unknown 16,845 19,730 19,415 18,750 
		
	
	
		
			  2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Total number accepted 298,055 309,460 316,240 320,535 
			 Of which: 
			 Asian 28,820 28,775 29,735 30,565 
			 Black 9,240 9,815 11,565 12,505 
			 Mixed 5,150 5,850 6,420 7,215 
			 White 231,370 238,350 244,300 247,990 
			 Other 2,035 1,940 2,090 2,660 
			 Unknown 21,445 24,725 22,130 19,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5 so components may not sum to totals.
	2.The classification of ethnic group changed between academic years 2000/01 and 2001/02 in order to incorporate those of mixed ethnicity, and so the two sets of data in these tables are not directly comparable.
	Source:
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Departmental Estate

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of (i) her Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) Executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case.

Maria Eagle: The following table details expenditure on buildings and insurance of buildings for the Department.
	
		
			  2004/05 Planned 2005/06 
			 Region Rent, rates and service charge Insurance Rent, rates and service charge Insurance 
		
		
			 London 23,253,389 77,800 23,253,389 80,000 
			 North West 589,736 0 591,250 0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 945,355 0 945,355 0 
			 North East 188,000 0 188,000 0 
			 South East 123,621 8,000 124,500 8,500 
			 East of England 218,908 4,637 186,863 3,500 
			 West Midlands 63,212 0 15,750 0 
		
	
	The Department do not hold any records of property expenditure by NDPBs, Executive agencies or other public bodies for which the Department is responsible.
	The information requested for the years 2002 to 2003 and 2003 to 2004 could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Expenditure

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department spent on bottled water in 2004–05.

Maria Eagle: Our data show that £58,401 was spent via the Department's framework contract. £39,875 of this total was spent on bottled water, the remainder being on ancillary products such as cups and maintenance.
	A further £43,629 was spent off contract". To provide the information requested for this spend could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Disabled Children (School Holiday Support)

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many qualified staff are available to support families with disabled children during school holidays in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Wakefield District and (c) Normanton constituency; and whether she plans to increase resources in this area.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not heldby the Department and to collect it would incur disproportionate cost.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of total spending on the education maintenance allowance for each year from 2003–04 to 2008–09.

Maria Eagle: Spending on the education maintenance allowance programme is within the Treasury's annually managed expenditure (AME). The following table shows, for 2003–04 and 2004–05, actual spend on the programme through AME, and for the years 2005–06 to 2008–09, the provision made in AME for the programme based on an assessment of take up in future years. These figures were correct at the time of the pre-Budget report in November 2005. AME programme forecasts are updated every six months.
	
		EMA provision made in AME
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2003–04 actual 142 
			 2004–05 actual 260 
			 2005–06 planned 432 
			 2006–07 planned 569 
			 2007–08 planned 589 
			 2008–09 planned 598

Education Spending

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage change in educational spending per pupil is proposed for 2006–07 in (a) Redbridge and (b) Waltham Forest; what this equates to in money terms per pupil; and what the total expenditure per pupil will be in 2006–07 in each borough.

Jacqui Smith: The information is set out in the following table. All figures are for allocations of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) per pupil. Authorities must apply the whole of their allocation of DSG to their schools budget, but they are free to add to it from their own resources: final figures for total expenditure per pupil may therefore be higher than the authority's allocation of DSG per pupil.
	
		
			  Redbridge Waltham Forest 
		
		
			 Percentage increase 7.3 6.9 
			 Cash increase (£) 255 264 
			 Total Dedicated Schools Grant (£) 3,757 4,115

Education Spending

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what per capita spending on primary school pupils in England was as a percentage of per capita spending on secondary school pupils in each year from 1978–79; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The available information is contained within the following table. Similar data are not available before 1992–93.
	
		School based expenditure1,2,3 per pupil(23) in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools since 1992–93(24)
		
			  £ cash terms prices 
			  Primary(25) (£ per pupil) Pre-primary and primary(25) (£ per pupil) Secondary (£ per pupil) Primary (£ per pupil as a percentage of secondary £ per pupil) Pre-primary and primary (£ per pupil as a percentage of secondary £ per pupil) 
		
		
			 1992–93 n/a 1,560 2,260 n/a 69.2 
			 1993–94 n/a 1,610 2,240 n/a 71.9 
			 1994–95 n/a 1,660 2,270 n/a 73.1 
			 1995–96 n/a 1,690 2,300 n/a 73.8 
			 1996–97 n/a 1,740 2,350 n/a 74.0 
			 1997–98(26) n/a 1,740 2,360 n/a 73.6 
			 1998–99(26) n/a 1,870 2,450 n/a 76.4 
			   
			 1999–2000(25)(26) 2,010 2,050 2,610 76.9 78.5 
			 2000–01 2,210 2,280 2,830 78.2 80.5 
			 2001–02 2,480 2,570 3,150 78.7 81.4 
			   
			 2002–03(24) 2,530 n/a 3,230 78.5 n/a 
			 2003–04 2,750 n/a 3,550 77.7 n/a 
			 2004–05 2,910 n/a 3,800 76.7 n/a 
		
	
	n/a=figures are not available.
	(22)School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by local authority schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.
	(23)The expenditure data to 1998–99 are drawn from the annual 'RO1' spending returns which local authorities submitted to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. Figures for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 are drawn from section 52 (table 3) outturn statements which local authorities submitted to the DfES. Figures for 2002–03 onwards are taken from section 52 (table A) outturn statements. The change in sources is shown by the blank rows. The pupil data are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(24)From 2002–03 the calculation is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001–02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses, while from 2002–03 only the schools element of these categories is included. In 2001–02 this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil of the England total, while the schools element of these categories accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the England total in 2002–03. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 2002–03 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
	(25)Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of section 52 for financial year 1999–2000.
	(26)Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998–99.
	(27)The expenditure data for 1999–2000 onwards reflect the return of grant maintained schools to local authority maintenance.
	Note:
	Figures are reported in cash terms as at 11 January 2006 and rounded to the nearest £10 and may not sum due to rounding.

Educational Psychologists

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many educational psychologists are employed by local education authorities.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of educational psychologists in service is collected in January of each year. The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of educational psychologists employed in each local authority in January 1997 and 2005.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of educational psychologists(28) in local authorities in England, January 1997 and 2005
		
			  1997 2005 
		
		
			 City of London (28)— (28)— 
			 Camden 8 16 
			 Greenwich 16 15 
			 Hackney 11 12 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7 11 
			 Islington 10 14 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 9 6 
			 Lambeth 13 14 
			 Lewisham 14 12 
			 Southwark 14 15 
			 Tower Hamlets 14 15 
			 Wandsworth 11 12 
			 City of Westminster 10 9 
			 Barking and Dagenham 13 15 
			 Barnet 16 15 
			 Bexley 11 14 
			 Brent 12 14 
			 Bromley 12 10 
			 Croydon 10 15 
			 Ealing 13 14 
			 Enfield 15 23 
			 Haringey 15 13 
			 Harrow 11 13 
			 Havering 8 10 
			 Hillingdon 12 14 
			 Hounslow 10 11 
			 Kingston upon Thames 5 8 
			 Merton 7 8 
			 Newham 12 12 
			 Redbridge 8 11 
			 Richmond upon Thames 7 7 
			 Sutton 6 8 
			 Waltham Forest 13 12 
			 Birmingham 39 55 
			 Coventry 13 11 
			 Dudley 11 12 
			 Sandwell 14 16 
			 Solihull 9 12 
			 Walsall 11 11 
			 Wolverhampton 12 18 
			 Knowsley 9 5 
			 Liverpool 16 20 
			 St. Helens 6 8 
			 Sefton 10 12 
			 Wirral 14 15 
			 Bolton 8 10 
			 Bury 8 8 
			 Manchester 18 19 
			 Oldham 7 11 
			 Rochdale 8 6 
			 Salford 10 11 
			 Stockport 12 13 
			 Tameside 8 12 
			 Trafford 5 6 
			 Wigan 12 12 
			 Barnsley 4 9 
			 Doncaster 11 15 
			 Rotherham 12 9 
			 Sheffield 19 17 
			 Bradford 19 13 
			 Calderdale 8 5 
			 Kirklees 22 25 
			 Leeds 15 32 
			 Wakefield 10 11 
			 Gateshead 9 14 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 14 13 
			 North Tyneside 7 11 
			 South Tyneside 6 8 
			 Sunderland 12 11 
			 Isles of Scilly (28)— (28)— 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 5 (28)— 
			 City of Bristol 17 16 
			 North Somerset 8 10 
			 South Gloucestershire 7 10 
			 Hartlepool 3 4 
			 Middlesbrough 5 8 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 5 5 
			 Stockton on Tees 9 10 
			 City of Kingston Upon Hull 8 12 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 8 9 
			 North East Lincolnshire 4 7 
			 North Lincolnshire 5 4 
			 North Yorkshire 13 16 
			 York 7 9 
			 Bedfordshire 16 16 
			 Luton n/a 5 
			 Buckinghamshire 25 23 
			 Milton Keynes n/a 12 
			 Derbyshire 32 31 
			 Derby n/a 11 
			 Dorset 25 19 
			 Poole n/a 7 
			 Bournemouth n/a 7 
			 Durham 23 27 
			 Darlington n/a 5 
			 East Sussex 18 17 
			 Brighton and Hove n/a 12 
			 Hampshire 61 52 
			 Portsmouth n/a 8 
			 Southampton n/a 13 
			 Leicestershire 26 19 
			 Leicester n/a 26 
			 Rutland n/a (28)— 
			 Staffordshire 28 28 
			 Stoke on Trent n/a 14 
			 Wiltshire 13 20 
			
			 Former Berkshire 21 n/a 
			 Swindon n/a 8 
			 Bracknell Forest n/a 5 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead n/a 6 
			 West Berkshire n/a 9 
			 Reading n/a 5 
			
			 Slough n/a 11 
			 Wokingham n/a 7 
			 Cambridgeshire 20 18 
			 Peterborough n/a 8 
			 Cheshire 30 25 
			 Halton n/a 6 
			 Warrington n/a 8 
			 Devon 35 30 
			 Plymouth n/a 14 
			 Torbay n/a 6 
			 Essex 63 47 
			 Southend on Sea n/a 6 
			 Thurrock n/a 6 
			
			 Former Hereford and Worcester 22 n/a 
			 Herefordshire n/a 7 
			 Worcestershire n/a 24 
			
			 Kent 56 41 
			 Medway n/a 11 
			 Lancashire 55 43 
			 Blackburn with Darwen n/a 11 
			 Blackpool n/a 8 
			 Nottinghamshire 33 29 
			 Nottingham n/a 14 
			
			 Former Shropshire 13 n/a 
			 Shropshire(30) n/a (28)— 
			 Telford and Wrekin(30) n/a 14 
			
			 Cornwall 13 17 
			 Cumbria 17 11 
			 Gloucestershire 9 23 
			 Hertfordshire 35 38 
			 Isle of Wight 4 6 
			 Lincolnshire 19 22 
			 Norfolk 24 26 
			 Northamptonshire 23 30 
			 Northumberland 9 13 
			 Oxfordshire 18 27 
			 Somerset 16 25 
			 Suffolk 16 20 
			 Surrey 34 41 
			 Warwickshire 15 20 
			 West Sussex 22 35 
			 England 1,768 2,156 
		
	
	n/a=not available.
	(28)Includes those on secondment for in service and initial training for Educational Psychologists.
	(29)Signifies <1.
	(30)Shropshire Educational Psychologists service is shared with Telford and Wrekin. Numbers are shown under Telford and Wrekin.
	Source:
	Annual survey of teacher numbers and teacher vacancies, Form618g.

Falling School Rolls

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made by the Department of the effects of falling school rolls in (a) the North East and (b) Gateshead, East and Washington, West constituency.

Jacqui Smith: The Department's national forecasts indicate that primary school rolls will fall by 129,000 between 2004/05 and 2007/08 with secondary rolls falling by 133,000 between 2004/05 and 2007/08.
	Local authority forecast data are at authority level and we do not have forecasts for the Gateshead, East and Washington, West constituency. Gateshead local authority's 2004 forecasts indicate that primary rolls will fall by 1,176 between 2004/05 and 2007/08 and secondary rolls will fall by 422 between 2004/05 and 2010/11. Sunderland local authority's 2004 forecasts indicate that primary rolls will fall by 2,739 between 2004/05 and 2007/08 and secondary rolls will fall by 1,876 between 2004/05 and 2010/11. We have developed a toolkit offering practical advice to help local authorities manage the challenges and opportunities presented by falling primary rolls. The toolkit is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/fallingrolls.

Foster Carers

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to ensure that foster carers are not discouraged by the welfare and benefits system from taking children on foster placements, with particular reference to housing benefit; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Foster carers play a vital role and we are committed to ensuring that they are not discouraged from caring for children by financial issues.
	All payments to foster carers in respect of children placed with them are disregarded in the calculation of entitlements for income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit. For the purposes of jobseeker's allowance, foster carers are treated as not being in remunerative work and so no account is taken of the hours spent in 'caring' for the children whom they are fostering. In cases where single foster parents are caring for a child, they are treated in the same way as lone parents in terms of their entitlement to income support (provided they meet the criteria). This means that their potential entitlement is not dependent on their availability for employment.
	Moreover, in March 2003 Home Responsibilities Protection was extended to include foster carers. The number of years they need to work to qualify for the state pension will therefore be reduced to take into account their years of caring (including periods when they are awaiting a placement), thereby increasing their long-term financial security.
	Fosterline, a new advice line funded by the DfES, offers information for prospective and existing foster carers on a range of issues, including benefits.
	More widely, we are seeking to improve the financialsupport that foster carers receive through the introduction of a national minimum allowance. We shall be consulting on our proposals later this month.

Further Education

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to promote a national brand for (a) sixth-form colleges and (b) general further education colleges, as recommended in the Foster report.

Bill Rammell: As the Secretary of State for Education and Skills said at the Association of College's annual conference on 16 November, we think Sir Andrew Foster has produced an impressive report which sets out a clear direction of travel. We want to take the time to consider the detailed recommendations in Sir Andrew's report. These recommendations, and how they should be taken forward, are being discussed with the Learning and Skills Council, colleges and other stakeholders. This includes those recommendations that relate to the branding and reputation management of FE and sixth-form colleges. We plan to announce in the spring the next stage of our reform of further education.

Further Education

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to ensure that the Learning and Skills Council is able to fund further education colleges sufficiently to meet the demand for places on non-basic skills courses for people aged over 19 years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Learning and Skills Council is able to fund further education colleges sufficiently to meet the demand from those wishing to study English for speakers of other languages courses; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: On 21 October the Government set out their priorities for post-16 education including adult line. I set out the Government's priorities for the learning and skills sector and the impact on funding in 2006–07 and 2007–08 on the 21 October, and full details can be found in Priorities for Success" on the LSC's website. Overall funding for further education (FE) which includes adult skills increased by 4.4 per cent. in 2005–06. Funding for non-vocational learning opportunities for adults, delivered mainly through local authority adult education services, has also increased. In 2004–05 we provided over £207 million to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in support of this learning. This has risen to £210 million in 2005–06. After piloting from 2002 we have also announced the national roll-out of the National Employer Training Programme in 2006–07 with a budget rising to £399 million in 2007–08. Through their dialogue with providers and their assessment of the needs of local communities, LSCs agree plans which enable colleges and other providers to deliver a wide range of learning opportunities to meet the needs of learners and employers. Literacy, numeracy and English language learning is a key priority.

Graduates and Postgraduates

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of working age people have held a qualification at (a) degree level or equivalent and (b) above degree level in each parliamentary constituency in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The information requested has been place in the House Libraries.

HE/FE Drop-out Rates

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statistics the Government keep on drop-out rates from further and higher education courses.

Bill Rammell: Since 1996/97, information on projected non-completion rates for higher education students has been published annually, initially by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and latterly by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in Performance Indicators in Higher Education". The latest available figures giving overall non-completion rates for students starting full-time first degree courses in England are shown in the table. Figures published in 2005 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that in 2003 the UK had one of the lowest highereducation non-completion rates among OECD countries.
	
		Percentage of UK domiciled full-time first degree students expected neither to obtain an award nor transfer—English higher education institutions -- Percentage
		
			 Students starting courses in: Non-completion rate 
		
		
			 2002/03 13.9 
			 2001/02 13.8 
			 2000/01 15.0 
			 1999/2000 15.9 
			 1998/99 15.8 
			 1997/98 16.1 
			 1996/97 15.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Performance Indicators in Higher Education", published by HESA. For 2002/03, the projected outcomes summarise the pattern of movements of students at institutions between 2002/03 and 2003/04 and give the outcomes that would have been expected from starters in 2002/03 if progression patterns were to remain unchanged over the next few years. The HESA data show the proportion of entrants who are projected to: obtain a qualification (either a first degree or another undergraduate award); transfer to another HEI; neither obtain a qualification nor transfer (i.e. fail to complete the course).
	One of the measures used by the Government to monitor performance in further education is the learnerretention rate. The learner retention rate is the proportion of qualification aims for which all learning activities were completed.
	Learner retention rates are published annually in a Statistical First Release (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000583/index.shtml). The overall learner retention rate for FE colleges was 85 per cent. in 2003/04, the latest year for which final data are available.
	Retention rates for individual colleges can be downloaded from the LSC website (http://benchmarking data.lsc.gov.uk/year8/index.cfm). For the middle 80 per cent. of colleges the retention rate in 2003/04 lay in the range 78 per cent. to 91 per cent.
	Retention rates are highly dependent on the mix of qualifications done at a college. A college that does few short courses and many full courses is likely to get a relatively low retention rate, simply because the national retention rate for short courses is relatively high and the national retention rate for full courses is relatively low.
	FE college retention rates and HE institution non-completion rates are collected in different ways and are not comparable.

Healthy Schools

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the schools which have achieved healthy schools status, broken down by local education authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Higher Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many further education students went on to university in the last year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest information is given in the table.
	
		Accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses by previous school type UK institutions 2004/05
		
			 School type Acceptances 
		
		
			 Further education 112,395 
			 Maintained schools 123,315 
			 Independent schools 31,390 
			 Other 4,125 
			 Not known 63,065 
			 Total 334,295 
		
	
	Source:
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Higher Education

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in (a) Sprowston High School, (b) Kellesden High School, (c) King Edward School and (d) Norwich High Street in Norwich progressed to (i) medicine, (ii) law and (iii) science subjects at university in the last five years.

Bill Rammell: Figures on the number of pupils from individual schools entering higher education are not calculated by the Department. Information on the number of entrants from Norwich, North constituency are given in the table. Figures for 2004/05 will be available later in January.
	
		18-year-olds entrants to HE courses from Norwich, North constituency
		
			 Academic year Pre-clinical medicine Law All sciences(31) All subjects 
		
		
			 2000/01 (32)— 5 55 140 
			 2001/02 (32)— 5 65 160 
			 2002/03(33) (32)— 5 80 165 
			 2003/04 5 10 65 175 
		
	
	(31)'Sciences' includes 'Medicine and Dentistry', 'Subjects allied to Medicine', 'Biological Sciences', 'Physical Sciences', 'Computer Sciences', 'Mathematical Sciences', 'Architecture Building and Planning' and 'Engineering and Technology'.
	(32)less than 3.
	(33)In 2002/03 a new coding frame for recording subject of study was introduced, as was a new method of apportionment between subjects studied. As such, figures for 2002/03 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years.
	Note:
	Figures are on a DfES whole year count basis and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

Home Schooling

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the impact the proposals contained within the Education White Paper will have on local education authority powers to regulate home schooling.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities have a duty to ensure that all children of compulsory school age in their locality receive a suitable full-time education. While the White Paper proposes a new statutory duty on local authorities to identify children missing education, it will not have any impact on local authority powers to regulate home schooling and there are no current plansto introduce compulsory registration of parents choosing to educate their children at home.

Learning and Skills Councils

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to improve the operation of Learning and Skills Councils in London; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: London faces a range of opportunities and challenges which need distinctive and tailored solutions. One of the biggest challenges over the next few years will be the Olympics and Paralympics. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the body responsible for planning and funding skills in London, has made good progress in meeting the skill needs of the capital, and is committed to working with all private and public sector partners to ensure that these opportunities are realised and the challenges met.
	The appointment of an LSC Regional Director for London has helped to strengthen the way that the LSC is working with partners to tackle education and skills issues in the capital. The recent appointment of a new Director for Regeneration, whose responsibilities include links to the Olympics, will further strengthen its ability to deliver training and skills in London.
	The LSC is also undergoing a radical restructuring exercise, which will ensure that the LSC is able to identify and respond to London's learning and skill needs even more effectively. These proposals will create a number of specialist economic development teams that will focus on skills for employers and regeneration. They will be supported by a new regional centre that will co-ordinate work with the RDAs, Sector Skills Councils and Regional Skills Partnership. The proposals are currently out to consultation with staff and unions until the end of January, and the final agreed changes will take effect from summer 2006.
	We will also want to consider in due course the outcomes of the current consultation on the powers and responsibilities of the Greater London Authority.

Level 2 Qualification

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the entitlement to a first Level 2 qualification is available to citizens of other countries resident in England; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Level 2 entitlement is targeted at all adults aged 19 or over without a first full level 2 qualification. It provides access to free tuition for their first full Level 2 qualification and eligibility is determined using a process of self-declaration. This process requires the learner to complete and sign a declaration of eligibility stating their highest level of qualification held.
	All individuals must meet the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) residency and nationality criteria. This is laid down in section 7 of the LSC Funding Guidance for Further Education 2004–05 (published April 2004) and the supplementary 2005–06 guidance which corresponds to the groups listed in the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations, 1997.
	Learner eligibility in relation to the Level 2 entitlement, and wider LSC funding eligibility, is widely drawn. The LSC regards an individual as ordinarily resident, and therefore eligible for LSC funding, as any person who habitually, normally and lawfully resides from choice and for settled purpose in that country. A copy of the LSC Funding Guidance for Further Education 2004–05 and supplementary 2005–06 information can be found at the following internet addresses:
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/pre2005/funding/streams/funding-guidance-for-fe-2004–05.pdf
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/2005/quality/performanceachievement/funding-guidance-for-fe-2005–2006.pdf

Level 2 Qualification

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the companies in receipt of funds in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 as part of the entitlement to a first level 2 qualification; and how much was received by such companies in each pilot area.

Phil Hope: During 2004–05 and 2005–06 the entitlement to a first full level 2 qualification has been available to individuals through further education (FE) colleges and to employers and their employees through Employer Training Pilots (ETP).
	In 2004–05 the approach to individuals was piloted through FE colleges in the North East and South East Learning and Skills Council (LSC) regions. From 2005–06, in a transition year toward national roll-out in 2006/07, all FE colleges in all LSC regions began to implement the entitlement. Individual learners exercising their entitlement are not asked to pay their contribution to the tuition fee; these fees are received by FE colleges from the LSC.
	ETPs were introduced in September 2002. At the end of March 2004, 8,427 employers were involved and by the end of March 2005, 19,440 had signed up. By the end of December 2005, a total of 26,974 employers and 226,426 learners had participated in ETP. Nearly 80 per cent. of ETP learners are, or were working towards an NVQ level 2 qualification.
	Details of contracts between ETP managers and employers taking part are confidential, including information on learning given and funding received. Release of any information, including the names of participating employers, would be subject to getting formal agreement from each employer Given the numbers of employers in ETP we believe that the costs of disaggregating the data and then obtaining permission to use it from employers would be disproportionate.

Local Strategic Partnerships

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) guidance and (b) advice the Learning and Skills Councils have issued as to who should chair local strategic partnerships.

Bill Rammell: The consultation paper Local Strategic Partnerships: Shaping the Future" launched on 8 December by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister examines the future role of LSPs, their governance and accountability, and their capacity to deliver sustainable community strategies and local area agreements.
	Membership of LSPs is drawn from a wide range of local partners, including the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The leadership of individual LSPs is a matter for local discretion and members' views can be sought on their chairmanship. The LSC has not issued guidance on who should chair LSPs.

Medicine

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many British medical students have studied in England in each year since 1997; how many were entrants from (a) the state sector and (b) the independent sector in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The latest available figures for medical students are shown in the table. Information for 2004/05 will be available in January 2006. Information on the school background of young (under 21) higher education students is published annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in Performance Indicators in Higher Education", but this covers all students and does not show figures for each subject separately. The latest data collected by HESA for 2003/04, covering students of all ages, show that 30 per cent. of entrants to undergraduate medical and dentistry courses came from the independent sector, compared to 12 per cent. of entrants to all undergraduate courses of any subject. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available centrally at present.
	
		UK domiciled students on undergraduate medical courses, English HE institutions
		
			 Academic year Students 
		
		
			 1997/98 16,640 
			 1998/99 16,575 
			 1999/2000 16,650 
			 2000/01 17,215 
			 2001/02 17,970 
			 2002/03 20,540 
			 2003/04 22,695 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Ofsted Offices (Refurbishment Expenditure)

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of refurbishing Ofsted offices in (a) Bristol, (b) Nottingham and (c) Manchester is expected to be; if she will provide a breakdown of expenditure for each office on items costing £500 or more including import and labour costs; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Parliamentary Questions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the question tabled on 14 December (38605) by the hon. Member for Bognor, Regis and Littlehampton.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 517W.

Physical Education

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what guidance is being provided for primary school head teachers on how to implement the workforce reform proposals in relation to physical education while maintaining (a) safety standards for children and (b) progress towards the public service agreement target on high quality physical education;
	(2)  what guidance is produced by the Teaching and Development Agency on the minimum number of hours in initial training needed by primary school teachers to be adequately prepared to teach physical education (a) safely and (b) to the level required for the achievement of the public service agreement target on high quality physical education.

Jacqui Smith: We have worked with the British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education (BAALPE) to develop a range of guidance documents for schools. Guidance is aimed at helping schools to implement workforce remodelling and to take a fresh look at the roles of support staff and external specialists in PE. We have always been clear that anyone working in this area needs to have relevant skills, experience and competence, with the safety of pupils always the first consideration. Full details of the guidance developed can be found at: www.baalpe.org.
	The Training and Development Agency for Schools does not prescribe a number of hours to be spent on any individual area of the curriculum for trainee teachers. Instead, the Agency requires trainees to meet a demanding set of outcomes by the end of their training programmes. All primary trainee teachers are required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of PE as well as demonstrating teaching ability in PE before they can become newly qualified teachers. This should enable newly qualified teachers to meet the PSA target. All trainee teachers are required to be able to manage lessons safely.

Post-16 Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the staying on rates for 16-year-olds in England were in each year from 1996–97; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in England is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in England 
		
		
			 1996 70.6 
			 1997 70.2 
			 1998 70.2 
			 1999 71.8 
			 2000 71.0 
			 2001 70.7 
			 2002 71.9 
			 2003 72.3 
			 2004 (Provisional) 74.2

Post-16 Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the effect on staying-on rates of the introduction of the education maintenance allowance; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: EMA was subject to one of the most comprehensive evaluations of any educational initiative. It was piloted in 10 areas (plus five others in London/Leeds) and the evaluation followed two cohorts of 16-year-olds for four years from 1999/2000 and 2000/01. Their outcomes were compared to those of matched individuals in 11 control areas. It was rolled out to a further 41 area in 2000/01 so that it was operating in around one third of the country.
	The results indicated that EMA increased participation of eligible young people in the pilot areas by 5.9 percentage points. This is equivalent to an increase in participation of all 16-year-olds across the whole country of 3.8 percentage points. There was a particularly strong impact for key target groups:
	young males (1.2 times impact),
	none/low/middle achievers (1.3 to 1.7 times impact)
	lower SEG groups (1.3 to 1.6 times impact)
	The results also showed positive impacts on retention from Y13 to Y14, and also on an individual's attachment to education, as measured by number of terms which they stay in education to age 19.
	EMA was rolled out to 16-year-olds in the remaining two thirds of the country in September 2004. There was a 1.9 percentage point increase in participation of 16-year-olds in full-time education between 2003/04 and 2004/05. This is in line with the increase in participation which was expected from the roll out of EMA and is the largest increase in participation for over 10 years. While it is not possible to say that all of the increase was due to EMA, this was one of the most important initiatives aimed at increasing participation. The Department and LSC will be doing further analyses of local participation when these become available to try to get a better estimate of the change which might be due to EMA. EMA was rolled out to 17-year-olds in September 2005 and will be fully rolled out to 18-year-olds from September 2006.
	This year the LSC has adopted the strategy of measuring EMA take-up to show early impact of the scheme locally. Volumes are on target, and take-up among poorer students is higher than originally projected, which is the group upon whom EMA is likely to have the greatest beneficial effect. Take-up among 16-year-olds largely met or exceeded estimated figures in 2004/05. Where take-up is lower than anticipated, the local LSC targets additional support to raise awareness of EMA and increase the figures.

Postgraduates

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students (a) studying for and (b) who achieved postgraduate degrees were educated in state schools in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The available information on the previous school type of students is published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in 'Performance Indicators in Higher Education in the UK'. However, these figures cover undergraduate entrants only and corresponding information for postgraduates is not available.
	The latest available information on the school background of higher education students covers young (aged under 21) first degree entrants, and is shown in the table.
	
		Proportion of UK domiciled young full-time first degree entrants to English Institutions from state schools and colleges
		
			  Academic Year Proportion from state schools and colleges 
		
		
			 1997/98 81.0 
			 1998/99 84.4 
			 1999/2000 84.1 
			 2000/01 85.0 
			 2001/02 85.2 
			 2002/03 86.4 
			 2003/04 86.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Performance Indicators in Higher Education" published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Qualifications (Gateshead)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of working age people in Gateshead East and Washington West were (a) qualified to (i) post-graduate level, (ii) graduate level and (iii) A-level and (b) without qualifications in each year from 1990.

Phil Hope: The following table shows estimates of the level of highest qualification held by the working age population in the parliamentary constituency of Gateshead East and Washington West. Data come from the Local Labour Force Survey. The number of people holding qualifications at post-graduate level and who were sampled in the LLFS, were too small to yield any meaningful estimates. The figures below therefore indicate the proportion qualified to either graduate level or equivalent (level 4), or postgraduate level (level 5). Qualified to A-level is defined as level 3 in the table. Data at parliamentary constituency level are not available prior to 1999.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Qualification level 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Level 4 or 5 18 16 18 18 23 25 
			 Level 3 16 12 14 14 13 12 
			 Trade apprenticeships(34) 13 13 12 10 7 7 
			 Level 2 13 17 17 17 17 16 
			 Below level 2 18 17 16 18 17 17 
			 Other qualifications(35) (36)— 7 4 5 6 7 
			 No qualifications 19 17 19 18 16 17 
		
	
	(34)For the purposes of target measurement people with trade apprenticeships as their highest qualification are assigned to level 3 and level2 in the ratio of 50:50.
	(35)Qualifications that cannot be assigned directly to levels. For the purposes of target measurement, people with Other qualifications as their highest qualification level are assigned to level 3:level 2:below level 2 in the ratio of 10:35:55.
	(36)Estimates for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 based on small sample sizes have been suppressed as they are statistically unreliable. Estimates for later years based on small sample sizes have been given, and are therefore subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution and, in particular, changes from year to year should not be used in isolation from the figures for a run of years.
	Notes:
	1.As with all sample surveys the estimates presented in this table are subject to sampling variability.
	2.Columns may not sum to 100 per cent. due to rounding.
	3.Working age people are defined as males and females aged 16–64 and 16–59 respectively.

School Budgets (Shrewsbury)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional funding has been made available for schools in Shrewsbury which have been unable to remain within their financial budgets for 2005–06.

Jacqui Smith: My Department has not made any additional funds available to Shropshire county council for this purpose. However, the LEA and School Budget Regulations enable local authorities to support schools in financial difficulty through sums held centrally by them, or by extending licensed deficit facilities under the conditions set out in their schemes for financing schools.
	In 2005–06 Shropshire received a 7.1 per cent. increase per pupil in its Schools Formula Spending Share.

School Curriculum (International Activities)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps the Government are taking to encourage schools and local education authorities to promote greater international links and opportunities with regard to curriculum-related activities; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to encourage schools and local education authorities to promote international professional development opportunities for teachers and head teachers; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations she has received about encouraging schools and local education authorities to promote greater international links and opportunities; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: A key aim of 'Putting the World into World-Class Education—An international strategy for education, skills and children's services' is to equip our children, young people and adults for life in a global society and work in a global economy. In addition, our national languages strategy clearly sets out the importance of international partnerships for the enrichment of language learning and to the curriculum more generally.
	Feeding into these, a tremendous amount of work is taking place to encourage schools and local authorities to promote international development opportunities for teachers and head teachers as well as greater international links and opportunities with regard to curriculum-related activities:
	Under citizenship education (which is statutory in secondary schools), pupils are being taught about the world as a global community, the political economic, environmental and social implications of this, including the wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility;
	The DfES has funded and worked with organisations to produce resource materials to support schools, such as the guide on 'Developing a Global Dimension' in the school curriculum';
	The Global Gateway website (www.globalgateway.org) is being continuously developed as our primary resource for all aspects of internationalism in education. It is primarily a global school partner finding facility. It also contains, among other things, guidance and resources for curriculum-related activities and information on professional development opportunities for teachers;
	With the British Council, we have developed a promotion pack containing relevant information and ready-made presentations for use by local authorities and other regional and local networks (e.g. the British Council Regional Professional Development network, development education centres) and, through them, to schools;
	We are working to further increase the impact of the DfES Teachers' International Professional Development (TIPD) programme, including greater synergy with the NCSL International Programme for Head teachers so that they can both potentially impact more on whole system change and policy development;
	The Comenius EU Programme provides opportunities for schools to work in multinational partnerships in projects to support and develop all areas of the curriculum, as well as opportunities for teachers to undertake training periods within one of the participating countries. Since 2004/05 the British Council has undertaken a focused promotion of the opportunities to schools and local authorities, and in 2005 there was a record number of 1,044 UK schools taking part in school projects. 605 teachers also took training courses in the programme, the majority being intensive courses for language teachers.
	We have had a very enthusiastic and positive response to the international strategy and have been working across a wide range of partners on raising the profile of the global dimension. Partners include: DFID and other Government Departments; British Council; Association of Colleges; Development Education Association; Institute of Education, University of London; Learning and Skills Council; QCA; NCSL; Universities UK; and UK Forum for International Education and Training.

School Swimming Pools

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school swimming pools there were in 1997; and how many have closed in each of the subsequent years.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not held centrally.

School Transport

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local authorities operate a Home to School transport scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: All local authorities in England and Wales are required to make arrangements for home to school transport under provisions contained in the Education Act 1996.

School Transport

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation her Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake to ascertain why parents are not using home to school transport provided by local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: My Department is not aware of any evidence to suggest that there is any large scale failure on the part of parents to take advantage of home to school transport arranged by local authorities, and therefore has not, and does not plan to undertake any such evaluation.

Schools

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children resident in the London borough of Croydon are educated in other local authorities, broken down by the local authority of the school which the child attends.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		Number of children residing in Croydon local authority by local authority in which they attend school
		
			  Primary(38) Secondary(39) Special(40) 
			 LA of schooling Number of pupils Percentage of resident population Number of pupils Percentage of resident population Number of pupils Percentage of resident population 
		
		
			 Croydon 22,053 92.4 15,418 77.3 461 71.8 
			 Bexley — — 6 (37)— (37)— — 
			 Birmingham (37)— (37)— — — — — 
			 Brighton and Hove — — — — — — 
			 Bromley 398 1.7 1,011 5.1 7 1.1 
			 Buckinghamshire — — — — (37)— (37)— 
			 Camden (37)— (37)— — — — — 
			 Ealing — — (37)— (37)—   
			 East Sussex — — — — (37)— (37)— 
			 Greenwich — — 5 (37)— — — 
			 Hackney — — (37)— (37)— — — 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 (37)— 28 0.1 (37)— (37)— 
			 Hampshire — — — — (37)— (37)— 
			 Haringey — — 6 (37)— — — 
			 Harrow — — (37)— (37)— — — 
			 Hertfordshire — — (37)— (37)— — — 
			 Islington — — (37)— (37)— — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4 (37)— 3 (37)— (37)— (37)— 
			 Kent — — 5 (37)— 5 0.8 
			 Kingston upon Thames (37)—  8 (37)— — — 
			 Lambeth 381 1.6 296 1.5 29 4.5 
			 Lewisham 31 0.1 48 0.2 (37)— (37)— 
			 Lincolnshire — — (37)— (37)— — — 
			 Merton 190 0.8 212 1.1 13 2.0 
			 Newham (37)— (37)— — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — (37)— (37)—   
			 Oxfordshire — — — — (37)— (37)— 
			 Redbridge — — (37)— (37)— — — 
			 Richmond upon Thames — — 7 (37)— — — 
			 Southwark 32 0.1 91 0.5 3 0.5 
			 Surrey 445 1.9 936 4.7 52 8.1 
			 Sutton 138 0.6 1,647 8.3 45 7.0 
			 Tower Hamlets — — 3 (37)— (37)— (37)— 
			 Wandsworth 169 0.7 166 0.8 8 1.2 
			 West Berkshire — — — — (37)— (37)— 
			 West Sussex (37)— — — — 5 0.8 
			 Westminster 11 (37)— 27 0.1 — — 
			 Total 23,862 — 19,933 — 642 — 
		
	
	(37)Indicates low count or negligible percentage.
	(38)Includes middle deemed primary.
	(39)Includes middle deemed secondary CTCs and academies.
	(40)Includes special and non-maintained special schools.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census 2005

Schools

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children attend schools in the London borough of Croydon, broken down by the local authority area in which the child is resident.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		Number of children attending schools in Croydon local authority by local authority in which the pupils reside
		
			  Primary(42) Secondary(43) Special(44) 
			 Resident LA Number of pupils Percentage of resident population Number of pupils Percentage of resident population Number of pupils Percentage of resident population 
		
		
			 Croydon 22,053 93.0 15,418 81.5 461 90.7 
			 Barnet — — — — — — 
			 Bexley (41)— (41)— 3 (41)— — — 
			 Brent — — — — — — 
			 Bromley 180 0.8 717 3.8 (41)— (41)— 
			 Camden — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Ealing — — 1— (41)— — — 
			 East Sussex — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Greenwich — — 10 0.1 — — 
			 Hackney — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Harrow — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Havering (41)— (41)— — — — — 
			 Islington — — 4 (41)— — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea — — 3 (41)— — — 
			 Kent 4 (41)— 6 (41)— — — 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Lambeth 482 2.0 1,176 6.2 10 2.0 
			 Lewisham 26 0.1 259 1.4 (41)— (41)— 
			 Luton (41)— (41)— — — — — 
			 Medway (41)— (41)— — — — — 
			 Merton 143 0.6 256 1.4 8 1.6 
			 Newham — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Redbridge — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Richmond upon Thames — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Somerset — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Southwark 43 0.2 204 1.1 3 0.6 
			 Surrey 348 1.5 266 1.4 7 1.4 
			 Sutton 292 1.2 420 2.2 10 2.0 
			 Tower Hamlets — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Waltham Forest — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Wandsworth 10 (41)— 64 0.3 (41)— (41)— 
			 West Sussex (41)— (41)— 16 0.1 — — 
			 Westminster — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 York — — (41)— (41)— — — 
			 Unknown 114 0.5 69 0.4 4 0.8 
			 Total 23,701  18,918  508  
		
	
	(41)Indicates low count or negligible percentage.
	(42)Includes middle deemed primary.
	(43)Includes middle deemed secondary CTCs and academies.
	(44)Includes special and non-maintained special schools.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census 2005

Schools

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Shropshire did not exceed their budget in the 2004–05 financial year.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 Number of local authority maintained schools reported on section 52 outturn during financial year 2004–05(45) 167 
			 Number of schools over their revenue budget for 2004–05(46)(5508620047) 122 
			 Total number of schools within their revenue budget for 2004–05(46)(5508620047) 45 
		
	
	(45)Included in the above table are all local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools reported by Shropshire local authority on their 2004–05 Section 52 Outturn Statement (Table B).
	(46)For the purposes of this table, a school is defined as operating within its revenue budget during 2004–05 if its closing revenue balance is greater than or equal to its opening revenue balance. The balance information reported in Shropshire's return is not internally consistent for all schools and in two cases this inconsistency, although relatively small, could mean that they should have been reported as over rather than within their revenue budget for the year.
	(47)Of the 122 schools who were within budget for 2004–05:
	eight started the year with a deficit revenue balance and remained in deficit at the end of the year;
	15 went from having a deficit revenue balance at the start of the year to being in surplus at the end of the year;
	99 started the year with a surplus revenue balance and ended the year further in surplus;
	(48)Of the 45 schools who were over budget for 2004–05:
	34 had sufficient surplus revenue balances at the start of the year that they still remained in surplus at the end of the year;
	seven went from having a surplus revenue balance at the start of the year to being in deficit at the end of the year;
	four started the year with a deficit revenue balance and ended the year further in deficit.
	Note:
	Data are as reported by Shropshire LA, but is being validated by the Department and is likely to change.

Schools White Paper

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what functions (a) her Department, (b) HM Inspectorate, (c) School Admissions Forums, (d) Ofsted, (e) the Schools Commissioner, (f) the Schools Adjudicator, (g) local authorities and (h) the Audit Commission will exercise with regard to (i) community schools, (ii) trust schools, (iii) special schools, (iv) city academies, (v) pupil referral units, (vi) federated schools and (vii) foundation schools under the proposals in the Schools White Paper; and what formal powers each body will be able to exercise in the discharge of each function.

Jacqui Smith: The Department for Education and Skills will set the overall legislative and policy framework for all schools.
	Admission Forums provide a vehicle for representatives of admission authorities and other key parties to discuss admission issues and consider the effectiveness of local admission arrangements. The function of the Forum is to provide advice on difficult admission issues, information for parents and to broker agreement on arrangements for admitting vulnerable pupils to schools quickly. All maintained schools, including Trust schools, and Academies must have regard to the Forum's advice. Admission Forums will have no functions in relation to special schools or Pupil Referral Units.
	Ofsted contribute to improvement and provide accountability through independent inspection and reporting. New shorter, sharper inspections were introduced in September 2005 as part of the New Relationship with Schools. The White Paper proposes that Ofsted should explore the introduction of even lighter touch inspections for high-performing schools. It also proposes that Ofsted should be given powers to investigate complaints from parents.
	The Schools Commissioner will be a senior Civil Servant within DfES and as such he/she will be carrying out functions on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Schools Commissioner will have a general role in promoting trust schools, including encouraging the spread of good practice between schools. In particular, the Commissioner will support schools wishing to adopt trusts, for example by brokering relationships with suitable partners and providing model documentation to facilitate the formation of trusts.
	The Schools Adjudicator rules on any objections to the proposed admission arrangements of all maintained schools, including Trust schools, and makes decisions on school organisation matters referred to him. Under the proposals in the White Paper, local authorities will be able to propose new foundation schools, propose the closure of all schools and propose expansion or the addition of SEN facilities to all categories of school. Where there is a conflict of interest, proposals will be decided by the Adjudicator. The Schools Adjudicator will have no functions in relation to Academies, special schools and Pupil Referral Units.
	The Audit Commission is an independent public body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently, and effectively in the areas of local government. It will continue to have a role in monitoring the effectiveness of the delivery of school improvement policies.
	The White Paper sets out a role for local authorities as the champions of the young people and parents in their area. Local authorities are currently responsible for ensuring that there is sufficiency of supply (as laid out in Sections 13 and 14 of the Education Act 1996). Under proposals set out in the White Paper, the local authority will also be responsible for promoting choice, diversity and fair access. Local authorities also provide challenge and support to schools through the School Improvement Partner. They will have new powers to intervene early in underperforming schools. They will also be expected to consider radical action when a school is judged to be inadequate by Ofsted.

Schools White Paper

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the measures in the White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All" which have been proposed to address (a) root causes of social disadvantage and (b) religious and culture segregation in education.

Jacqui Smith: As stated in the first paragraph of the executive summary of the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All"; its aim is
	to transform our school system so that every child receives an excellent education—whatever their background and wherever they live".
	All the policies set out in the White Paper will contribute to this aim and will address the root causes of social disadvantage and religious and cultural segregation in education. In particular:
	more personalisation enabling every school to provide an education tailored to the needs of every pupil, supported by catch up and extra support for those who need it to ensure that every child reaches their potential;
	ensuring that choice is more widely available to all, not just to those who can pay for it, will be delivered by better information, dedicated choice advisers and an extended transport offer to help the least well-off parents exercise choices;
	ensuring that school failure and underperformance, which is often most severe in disadvantaged areas, is tackled swiftly and decisively;
	ensuring that schools have the necessary freedoms to respond to the particular circumstances that they face in their locality and are able to engage and work with external partners to bring in additional expertise, including through the acquisition of trusts;
	ensuring that school staff have the necessary powers to deal effectively with disruptive pupils for the benefit of all children in the school;
	creating a new, strategic role for local authorities as the champions of pupils and parents in their area, particularly the most disadvantaged.

Schoolteachers and College Staff

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many secondary school teachers in London have (a) a first class, (b) an upper second, (c) a lower second, (d) a third class and (e) no degree.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides degree class information for all full-time regular teachers in service in maintained secondary schools in London in 2004, the latest information available. For comparison, the degree class of those teachers qualifying during 2003 is also provided.
	
		Percentage of full-time teachers in London secondary school service, March 2004(49), by class of degree held and year of qualification
		
			  Year of qualification 
			 Class of degree All years 2003 
		
		
			 1st Honours 4.1 6.0 
			 2nd Honours(50) 73.2 73.7 
			 3rd and unclassified honours 6.4 4.5 
			 Degree obtained outside UK 5.0 8.1 
			 Pass/Other(51) 10.1 7.5 
			 No degree recorded(52) 1.2 0.2 
			 Total 100 100 
		
	
	(49)Provisional estimates.
	(50)Information for 2nd class honours degrees cannot be split into 2:1 or 2:2 categories.
	(51)Includes teachers whose degree class is not recorded, teachers with other graduate equivalent qualifications and a small number of teachers with higher degrees where the class of their first degree is unknown.
	(52)Includes teachers obtaining qualified teacher status through a Certificate of Education. Some of these teachers may have gained degree level qualifications after entering teaching but no details of these qualifications are available.
	Source:
	Database of Teachers Records

Schoolteachers and College Staff

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) school teachers and (b) college staff there are in each English region.

Jacqui Smith: Information on teachers employed in maintained schools is collected in January of each year and September for staff in further education colleges. The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teachers in maintained schools in each local authority in January 2004 and 2005, and the full-time number of staff in further education colleges in September 2004, the latest information available.
	
		Full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained schools and full-time staff in further education colleges by Government Office Region
		
			  Maintained schools Further education colleges(53) 
			  January 
			  2004 2005 September 2004 
		
		
			 North East 22,700 22,700 4,300 
			 North West 62,000 62,200 12,600 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 44,200 44,600 8,700 
			 East Midlands 36,200 36,400 5,400 
			 West Midlands 48,200 49,200 9,400 
			 East of England 47,100 47,200 6,100 
			 London 61,600 62,700 9,500 
			 South East 65,500 66,300 10,200 
			 South West 40,200 40,600 6,800 
			 Region Unknown — — 3,800 
			 England 427,700 431,900 76,800 
		
	
	(53)Information relates to full-time staff whose primary role is teaching and does not include other staff whose primary role is supporting teaching and learning or other support.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	Source:
	Annual survey of teacher numbers and teacher vacancies, (Form618g) and Staff Individualised Record.

Sector Skills Bodies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills what the Government Capital Reserve in the Learning and Skills Council Annual Report and Accounts 2004–05 is; and what guidelines cover its use.

Bill Rammell: I have overall responsibility for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). However the operations of the LSC are managed and overseen by Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive. Details of the LSC's Statutory Accounts and the guidelines and policies they use for the Government Capital Reserve are a matter for the LSC. Mark Haysom has written to the hon. Member with information and copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 22 December 2005
	I refer to your recent parliamentary questions in which you asked the Secretary of State (a) what the donated asset reserve in the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Annual Report and Accounts 2004–05 is and what guidelines cover its use (b) what the Government Capital Reserve in the LSC Annual Report and Accounts 2004–05 is and guidelines cover its use. I am pleased to provide the following information answering your questions below.
	The Donated Asset Reserve reflects the current net book value of the fixed assets transferred to the LSC from the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) when the LSC was set up. The Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) Annual Reports and Accounts Guidance for 2004–05 provides further detail on the accounting for this reserve. The Government Accounting manual covers the management of assets.
	The Government Capital Reserve reflects the current net book value of fixed assets acquired by the LSC. The Government Capital Reserve is credited with the amount of the grant that equates to the asset's acquisition cost. Notes 9 and 10 to the accounts provide further details on the fixed assets of the LSC. The Executive NDPBs Annual Reports and Accounts Guidance for 2004–05 provides further detail on the accounting for this reserve. The Government Accounting manual covers the management of assets.
	I trust the above information will be of assistance to you

Social Mobility

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on changes in social mobility in relation to inter-generational academic achievement between 1978 and 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The Secretary of State's speech to IPPR on 26 July 2005 set out the Government's commitment to help develop a society which can foster greater social mobility. Her speech underlined the important role that education can play in improving life chances for all individuals, and it set out the forward looking context for our programme of reform across the system.
	An assessment of changes in inter-generational academic achievement is constrained by data limitations. However in a paper accompanying the speech, Has the Social Class Gap Narrowed in Primary Schools", analysis was presented to show how gaps in attainment between pupils from high and low income brackets (proxied by free school meal (FSM) status) have changed. The paper focused on key stage 2 between 1998 and 2004, the period in which the data allow such comparisons to be made.
	The analysis showed that performance has improved on average for both FSM and non-FSM pupils, but there was little significant change in the gap between the two groups. However it was found that schools with the highest proportions of pupils eligible for FSM did narrow the gap compared to schools with low proportions of FSM. For example in key stage 2 English, the gap in attainment at level 4 narrowed by eight percentage points in the period 1998–2004 between schools with high and low proportions of FSM pupils. The full paper is available on the Department's website.
	Further analysis will be carried out over the coming months. In particular, we will look at key stages 1, 3 and 4, to the extent that data for these phases can be tracked over time on a comparable basis.

Special Educational Needs

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support and services are available for new parents whose children have been diagnosed at birth as suffering from learning difficulties in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Wakefield District and (c) Normanton constituency; and whether she plans to increase this assistance.

Maria Eagle: The Government are committed to improving services for all children and their families, including those with learning disabilities. The Every Child Matters programme, alongside the implementation of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services and the Government's SEN strategy Removing Barriers to Achievement", supports and promotes early intervention to help families of very young disabled children. In particular, the Government's Early Support Programme has been funded to improve support to parents of disabled children aged 0–3 and to provide timely interventions at the very earliest stages of impairment being identified. The development of Sure Start Children's Centres will also improve the integrated support provided to families with children under 5. Disabled children and special educational needs are a priority for this programme.
	In the West Yorkshire area there are currently 24 Children's Centres (expected to rise to 76 by September 2006) and 1 Early Support Programme (with one currently being developed in Wakefield). All local authorities have now been asked to begin using the Early Support approaches and materials to review and improve services for families with young disabled children.
	Families of children with learning disabilities are, of course, entitled to access an additional range of local authority and health support. Details about these local services are not collected centrally and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

State Schools (Selection)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of selection on religious grounds in state schools on social cohesion.

Jacqui Smith: We welcome faith schools into the maintained sector as they can make an important contribution to community cohesion by promoting inclusion and developing partnerships with schools of other faiths, and with non-faith schools. Many faith schools play their part in social cohesion by admitting pupils of other faiths and none and we encourage them in the School Admissions Code of Practice to do this.

Summer Enterprise School

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the forecast budget is for the Summer Enterprise School programme; how this budget is distributed between each pathfinder programme; and what the cost is for each school;
	(2)  if she will list the organisations which bid to run the Summer Enterprise School pathfinder programme; which bid was successful; and what provision that bid made for the programme;
	(3)  which organisations her Department consulted on the estimate of costs for the Summer Enterprise School pathfinder programme; and what comparisons have been made with similar schemes overseas.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 20 December 2005
	Following the Chancellor's 15 November announcement that Young Enterprise (YE) will run Enterprise Summer School Pathfinders in 2006, the DfES have been given responsibility for the delivery of the Pathfinders. £2 million has been made available, and while we have had early discussions with YE about how, along with other organisations, they will deliver the Pathfinders, we are not yet at a stage to finalise detailed costings.
	Enterprise Summer Schools were initially announced on 26 June 2005, and a number of proposals to run them were received following that announcement. However, Young Enterprise, as a nationally enabled charity with a regional structure, and long experience of enterprise education, had the only suitable proposal. In pathfinding and evaluating YE's different summer school models we will be taking account of international best practice.

Specialist Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason selection of up to 10 per cent. of intake by aptitude is not permitted in schools which specialise in (a) business and enterprise, (b) engineering, (c) humanities, (d) mathematics and computing and (e) science; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Admission authorities of schools have been able to select up to 10 per cent. of their intake based upon applicant's aptitude in certain prescribed subjects. We allow this limited flexibility so that pupils with a relevant aptitude can gain access to particular schools.
	However, we are opposed to academic selection and do not wish to see it extended. It is accordingly permissible only to use tests that assess aptitude in the particular subject as distinct from general academic ability.

Specialist Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average point score at (a) Key Stage 3 and (b) GCSE and equivalent was for specialist schools in 2004, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by specialism.

Jacqui Smith: The average point scores at Key Stage 3 and GCSE and equivalent for specialist schools in 2004 are shown in the following tables:
	
		2004 Key Stage 3:
		
			 Specialism Number of schools Average points score 
		
		
			 All specialist schools 1,433 34.9 
			 Arts 226 34.4 
			 Business and enterprise 82 34.5 
			 Engineering 14 34.8 
			 Language 187 36.1 
			 Maths and computing 76 35.9 
			 Science 121 36.1 
			 Sports 226 33.9 
			 Technology 491 34.7 
			 Combined specialism 10 35.5 
		
	
	
		2004 GCSEs and equivalents:
		
			   Average points score 
			 Specialism Number of schools Capped(54) Uncapped 
		
		
			 All specialist schools 1,443 295.1 361.2 
			 Arts 227 290.1 353.3 
			 Business and enterprise 82 294.1 363.0 
			 Engineering 14 287.7 340.8 
			 Language 187 312.7 383.7 
			 Maths and computing 76 309.8 379.4 
			 Science 121 313.7 385.7 
			 Sports 228 276.7 331.9 
			 Technology 498 293.2 362.1 
			 Combined specialism 10 301.8 358.0 
		
	
	(54)Average capped point scores are calculated using the best eight results.

Specialist Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils attending specialist schools attained five or more GCSEs including English and mathematics in 2004 (a) in total and (b) broken down by specialism.

Jacqui Smith: The number and proportion of pupils attending specialist schools who achieved five or more GCSE's including English and mathematics in 2004 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Specialism Number of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more grades A*-C, including English and maths 
		
		
			 All specialist schools 130,812 45 
			 Arts 19,603 42 
			 Business and enterprise 6,781 44 
			 Engineering 1,229 43 
			 Language 19,824 53 
			 Maths and computing 7,595 53 
			 Science 12,480 53 
			 Sports 17,420 38 
			 Technology 44,943 44 
			 Combined specialism 937 49

Specialist Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils attending specialist schools achieved (a) level 5 or above and (b) level 6 or above in 2004, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by specialism.

Jacqui Smith: The proportion of pupils attending specialist schools achieving level 5 or above and level 6 or above in 2004 are shown in the following table:
	
		2004 Key Stage 3
		
			 Specialism Number achieving L5 or above Proportion achieving L5 or above (percentage) Number achieving L6 or above Proportion achieving L6 or above (percentage) 
		
		
			 All specialist schools 653,929 74 385,627 44 
			 Arts 102,764 72 58,815 41 
			 Business and Enterprise 35,961 73 20,236 41 
			 Engineering 6,476 73 3,816 43 
			 Language 91,424 79 58,771 51 
			 Maths and Computing 34,627 78 21,841 49 
			 Science 58,123 80 36,949 51 
			 Sports 97,522 70 53,291 38 
			 Technology 222,489 73 129,236 43 
			 Combined 4,543 78 2,672 46

State-funded Education

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of gross domestic product was spent on state-funded education in (a) 1979–80, (b) 1987–88, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 2004–05.

Jacqui Smith: The following table shows the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on education in the UK.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1979–80 5.1 
			 1987–88 4.7 
			 1997–98 4.5 
			 2004–05 5.4 
		
	
	Note:
	1.Figures on UK education spend for the years shown were obtained from the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses.
	2.The GDP figures used are the latest available and were updated at the end of December 2005.
	3.The international definition of education expenditure used to produce the figures for the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses has changed over time; therefore, the figure for 1979–80 is not directly comparable with the other years. The figures for 1987–88, 1997–98 and 2004–05 have been produced to the same definition and so are comparable.

Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have qualified but have not taken up a career in teaching since 1997; and what the cost per student has been of training such people.

Jacqui Smith: Data from the Teachers Pension Scheme indicate that the following proportions of qualifiers are not known to have any teaching service up to March 2004 since qualifying.
	
		
			 Year of qualification Percentage without teaching service Qualifiers recorded on Teachers Pension Scheme 
		
		
			 1997 10 26,223 
			 1998 10 24,841 
			 1999 8 24,197 
			 2000 8 21,814 
			 2001 8 21,812 
			 2002 11 23,038 
			 2003 20 25,175 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures exclude those qualifying through employment based routes.
	The main reason for the higher figures in the most recent years is that some qualified teachers delay the start of their teaching careers. The proportion of qualifiers without teaching service usually falls substantially over the first year or two after qualification, and in the long-term has been around 9–10 per cent. since 1990; the figures for the 2003 qualifiers are expected to fall to a similar level. For example, the proportion of all qualifiers without recorded teaching service by March of the year after they qualified has remained at 20 per cent. for 2001, 2002 and 2003, but for 2002 qualifiers it fell to 11 per cent. after another year and for 2001 qualifiers it fell to 8 per cent. after two.
	The Teachers Pension Scheme has only partial coverage for those teaching outside maintained schools, for example in independent schools or in further or higher education, so the true proportion is expected to be lower.
	The cost of teacher training varies according to different routes to achieving qualified teacher status (QTS) to work in maintained schools in England. The three main types are:
	a.Undergraduate courses leading to a degree plus QTS;
	b.Postgraduate courses leading to QTS; and
	c.Employment-based teacher training routes leading to QTS.
	The funding which each of these routes attracts from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is in 2005/06:
	a.Undergraduate courses: £16,000 per trainee (@ £4,000 per year), excluding fee/maintenance support.
	b.Postgraduate courses: £5,200 per trainee, plus at least £1,200 fee/maintenance support, plus £6,000 bursary (in total £12,400 per trainee).
	c.Employment-based teacher training routes: £17,620 per trainee, including a £13,000 grant towards the employment costs of each trainee.

Truancy

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were (a) stopped and (b) cautioned for truancy in (i) Wimbledon and (ii) the London borough of Merton in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Since December 2002, the Department has co-ordinated national truancy sweeps in England. These usually take place during the autumn and spring terms. Data are collected from each local authority (LA) which participates in the national sweeps and relates to the whole LA and not to individual areas.
	Under Section 16 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 police officers have the power to return truants to their school or to a local designated place. There is no power to arrest, caution or detain children because they are out of school without a good reason. Children who truant from school are not committing a crime; their parents are legally responsible for their non-attendance. However, it is important that follow up arrangements are made for children who are out of school with no good reason.
	
		Data for the London borough of Merton
		
			 Truancy sweeps Total number of truancy sweeps Total stopped Total stopped with no valid reason for being out of school Total stopped over the year with no valid reason for being out of school 
		
		
			 Autumn 2002 Not known 63 11 11 
			 Spring 2003 2 16 7 40 
			 Autumn 2003 5 44 33 — 
			 Spring 2004 4 48 22 — 
			 Autumn 2004 5 23 8 30 
			 Spring 2005 3 15 11 11 
			 Autumn 2005 (55)— (55)— (55)— (55)— 
		
	
	(55)Data still being collected

Deprivation Funding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will announce the full conclusions of the Deprivation Funding Review; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: My written statement of 7 December on the School Funding Settlement for 2006–07 and 2007–08 announced that the report of the DfES/HM Treasury review of deprivation—Child Poverty, Fair Funding for Schools"—was being published on the same day, and is on Teachernet at www.teachernet.gov.uk/deprivationfundingreview/. A copy of the report has also been placed in the House Libraries.

Deprivation Funding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the allocation of funding to schools in deprived areas of Somerset; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Under the current Schools Formula Spending Share (SFSS) arrangements in 2005–06, Somerset's SFSS takes account of the incidence of Additional Educational Needs, in the form of the numbers of families found to be in receipt of income support and working families tax credits, and the level of primary and secondary ethnicity in schools in Somerset. The school funding regulations stipulate that authorities must have a factor within their local funding formulae which recognises the incidence of deprivation in distributing resources to local schools.
	From April 2006, the Department is introducing a new ring fenced Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in distributing resources directly to authorities based on authorities spending levels in 2005–06. Somerset will receive increases of 6.7 per cent. and 6.5 per cent. per pupil in the next two financial years. It will be for the local authority to decide how to distribute their resources to schools via the local funding formula.

Variable Top-up Fees

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment the Government have made of the impact of variable top-up fees on the number of UK-domiciled students taking up postgraduate courses.

Bill Rammell: Separate arrangements apply in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In England, there should be no impact on the take-up of postgraduate places as variable tuition fees apply only to undergraduate courses and designated initial teacher training courses, for which the Government will continue to provide non-means tested support in 2006/07.
	Postgraduate tuition fees are unregulated. However eligible students may receive specific support for postgraduate study through the disabled students' allowance and awards funded by the Office of Science and Technology through the Research Councils and HE institutions.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of new claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit were determined to be fraudulent in Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate (a) how many instances of fraud there have been in each of the last five years that have arisen as a result of sending information to someone who has (i) died and (ii) moved house and (b) the resultant cost to his Department;
	(2)  if he will estimate (a) how many instances of fraud there have been in each of the last five years involving those who are falsely claiming pension credit for someone who has (i) died and (ii) moved house and (b) the resultant cost to his Department;
	(3)  if he will estimate how much correspondence was addressed by his Department to people who have (a) died and (b) moved house in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not held and no estimate is available of the volume, value and cost of fraud linked to claims of persons who have died or moved house.

Benefit Fraud

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate (a) how many instances of fraud there have been in each of the last five years involving those who are falsely claiming housing benefit for someone who has (i) died and (ii) moved house and (b) the resultant cost to his Department.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not held and no estimate is available of the volume, value and cost of fraud linked to claims of persons who have died or moved house.

Benefit Payments

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs for the pension credit in Wales went unanswered in each year since the pension credit system began; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Pension credit is administered by The Pension Service and tax credits by HM Revenue and Customs.

Benefit Payments

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) all pensioners and (b) eligible pensioners received the pension credit in Wales in each year since the system began; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The available information is in the following tables:
	
		ONS mid year pensioner population estimates for Wales 2003, 2004
		
			  2004 2003 
		
		
			 Total pensioner population 684,000 674,600 
			 Proportion who are pension credit  household recipients (percentage) 21.3 18.1 
			 Proportion who are pension credit  individual beneficiaries (percentage) 26.2 21.9 
		
	
	
		Pension credit recipients in Wales as at May 2004, 2005 and November 2003
		
			  Household recipients Individual beneficiaries 
		
		
			 May 2005 158,300 195,100 
			 May 2004 145,900 179,100 
			 November 2003 121,900 147,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2.Pension credit (PC) replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) on 6 October 2003. Existing MIG recipients were automatically converted onto pension credit on that date (assuming they still met the eligibility criteria).
	3.The latest available population figures from ONS are mid year 2004.
	4.Pension credit data are from the new WPLS and are taken as at 30 November 2003 and 31 May 2004, 2005.
	5.Couples may include partners who are aged less than 60.
	6.The pensioner population is defined as all males and females aged 60+.
	7.Household recipients are those people who claim PC either on behalf of themselves only or on behalf of a household. This number is equal to the number of households in receipt of PC. The number of beneficiaries is the claimants plus their partners.
	Source:
	Pension Credit Data: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data.
	Mid year population estimates: ONS, Population Estimates Unit.
	Latest estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to but not receiving the main income-related benefits relate to financial year 2002–03 and predate the introduction of pension credit. Estimates for minimum income guarantee—the predecessor to pension credit—can be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002–2003". Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	Estimates of pension credit will be published in early 2006; this publication will include the first six months of pension credit. Estimates for the full year 2004–05 are expected to be published in May 2006. Information is not available below a national level.

Benefit Payments

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time was from receipt of an (a) incapacity benefits, (b) jobseeker's allowance, (c) income support, (d) disability living allowance and (e) pension credit claim to payment of the benefit to the claimant in Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		Average number of days from benefit claim to payment of benefit in Wales -- Days
		
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Incapacity benefit (IB) clearance rate 13.6 12.8 15.2 13.2 
			 IB Clearance target 22 19 
			  
			 Jobseekers allowance (JSA) clearance rate 9.2 9.5 10.0 10.5 
			 JSA Clearance target 12 
			  
			 Income support (IS) clearance rate 9.1 9.1 9.9 9.5 
			 IS clearance target 12 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are only available from April 2002 when Jobcentre Plus came into being, replacing the former Employment Service and parts of the Benefits Agency.
	2.Clearance times are measured up to the date of decision and referral for payment. The payment will be issued on the appropriate pay-day.
	
		Disability living allowance (normal rules) new claims clearance times
		
			  Target YTD 
		
		
			 1999/2000 Percentage cleared (85 per cent. in 53 days) 89.5 
			 2000/01 Percentage cleared (95 per cent. in 73 days) 95.9 
			 2001/02 Percentage cleared (95 per cent. in 73 days) 95.9 
			 2002/03 Average clearance time (43 days ) 34.1 
			 2003/04 Average clearance time (42 days ) 39.2 
			 2004/05 Average clearance time (39 days ) 35.4 
			 As at November 2005 Average clearance time (39 days ) 34.4 
		
	
	
		Disability living allowance (special rules) new claims clearance times
		
			  Target YTD 
		
		
			 1999/2000 Percentage cleared (80 per cent. in 10 days) 88.9 
			 2000/01 Percentage cleared (95 per cent. in 15 days) 92.1 
			 2001/02 Percentage cleared (95 per cent. in 15 days) 91.3 
			 2002/03 Average Clearance time ( 8 days ) 5.8 
			 2003/04 Average Clearance time ( 8 days ) 6.7 
			 2004/05 Average Clearance time ( 8 days ) 6.4 
			 As at November 2005 Average Clearance time ( 8 days ) 5.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Each year runs from April to the following March, except for the current year where the YTD figure is up to and including 30 November 2005.
	2.Up to 2001–02 the target was known as 'X percentage into Ydays' but since 2002–03 it has been expressed as an Actual Average Clearance Time.
	3.The target and YTD figure only relates to clearance times and not to payment of benefit. Although an assumption is made that payment will be authorised at the same time as the case is cleared, in a favourable award, there will always be exceptions to this.
	Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003.
	Clearance time data for pension credit is not available in the format requested. When The Pension Service was introduced the agency was organised into Government Office Regions. As The Pension Service caseload is managed by Pension Centre, it is not possible to trace clearance times to claims originating in Wales.

Benefit Payments

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money has been spent in each of the last five years on sending information to incorrect addresses for those in receipt of benefits; and what the estimate is of the amount of money fraudulently claimed as a result.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Benefit Payments

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department uses an automatic indicator that someone in receipt of benefit has (a) died and (b) moved house.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions uses automatic indicators to 'broadcast' to all its benefit systems changes of circumstances where someone in receipt of benefit has died or has moved house.
	When a person dies, the Department is notified of the death by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales, the General Registrar's Office for Scotland or the General Registrar's Office for Northern Ireland. This data is transmitted to a central point in DWP. It is recorded on the Departmental Central Index (DCI) and forwarded automatically to all benefit systems including the jobseeker's allowance payment system and the pension strategy computer system. Once the notification is received, payment of benefit will automatically be suspended on systems such as the pension strategy computer system and the disability living allowance/attendance allowance computer system. On other systems, such as the income support computer system and the jobseeker's allowance payment system staff will be notified of the need to take action on the cases affected.
	When the Department is notified that someone has moved house, the data are automatically sent to the relevant benefit systems. This alerts staff to take the necessary action to update addresses and, where appropriate, notify the relevant local authority for housing benefit and council tax benefit purposes. A process is also in place where local authorities can notify DWP when a person in receipt of benefit has moved house and when this is received at a central point, automatic indicators are broadcast to other benefit systems.

Benefit Payments

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department traces an individual in receipt of benefit for whom it has an incorrect address.

James Plaskitt: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 80W.

Carers

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to enhance the rights of carers.

Anne McGuire: This Government are the first ever to recognise the contribution and concerns of all carers formally and is supporting carers on a number of fronts through the work of several Departments.
	The principle of fair outcomes for women and carers is central to the National Pensions Debate that the Government launched earlier this year.
	The Department for Work and Pensions held a specific event focusing on women and pensions on 7 November, following the publication of the Government's report Women and pensions: The evidence". The report provides a compendium of evidence that highlights the key influences on the level of women's retirement income, including consideration of the impact of parenthood and family caring responsibilities on pension entitlement.

Carers

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what basis applications for additional assistance for carers wishing to take a break in their care provision are selected for means-testing.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 January 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	A service that enables a carer to take a break from caring is viewed as a service for the cared for person. Carers cannot be charged for community care services provided to the people they care for. If the council charges for short break services, it is the service user who must be financially assessed.
	Carers can only be charged for services they receive as a result of a carer's assessment under the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000. It is for local authorities to determine their own charging policy for non-residential services for both carers and service users. For residential care, they must charge the service user in accordance with statutory regulations.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role his Department has inthe regulation of child care; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The regulation of child care in England is the responsibility of Ofsted, under the policy direction of the Department for Education and Skills. The Department for Work and Pensions has no role in the regulation.
	Regulation of child care in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly respectively.

Civil Service Relocation (Scotland)

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental civil service jobshave been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 28 November 2005
	A total of 50 posts have been relocated to Scotland from London and the South East as part of the Lyons Review of Public Sector Relocation. These relocations have taken place since June 2003. Information prior to this date is not available.

Claimant Behaviour

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on findings of research projects (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department on the efficiency of benefit sanctions in influencing claimant behaviour.

James Plaskitt: Our administration database tells us that 14 per cent. of jobseeker's allowance customers are referred to a decision maker for consideration of a sanction. In total only 4 per cent. of customers are actually sanctioned. This would suggest that the threat of the application of sanctions leads the majority to comply with the conditions of receiving jobseeker's allowance. New evidence from a commissioned evaluation on jobseeker's allowance sanctions will be published in early 2006. This will help to shed light on customer understanding and knowledge of jobseeker's allowance sanctions.
	In the case of lone parents, new research findings, to be published on 19 January 2006, will provide qualitative evidence on the efficiency of benefit sanctions for lone parents in influencing claimant behaviour.
	Due to the low volumes, no evaluation has taken place of the efficiency of benefit sanctions in the pathways to work pilots.

Child Support Agency

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of maintenance applications to the Child Support Agency have been determined within (a) 22 weeks and (b) 12 months in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the requested information.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 16 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of maintenance applications to the CSA have been determined within (a) 22 weeks and (b) 12 months in each of the last 5 years for which figures are available?
	The information requested can be found in the attached tables. Recent improvements in management information for new-scheme cases allows the Agency to provide more meaningful information on the time taken to clear new scheme applications, which was published for the first time in the Departments Child Support Agency Quarterly Statistical Supplement on the DWP website on 27 October 2005.
	It should be noted that, a new-scheme application is defined as determined (or cleared) if the case is closed, a maintenance calculation has been carried out and a payment arrangement is in place, the Parent with Care is identified as claiming Good Cause or subject to a Reduced Benefit Decision, or the application is identified as being a change of circumstances on an existing case.
	For old-scheme cases on the old computer system (CSCS), the Agency is only able to measure clearances up to the point of closure or maintenance assessment.
	As the definition of a clearance is slightly different for old and new-scheme cases, the numbers presented below are therefore broadly, but not directly, comparable.
	I recognise that performance in this area is unsatisfactory, and that there is a need for real improvement in the near future. To this end, I am currently presenting proposals to Ministers aimed at making the Agency more effective in its role of ensuring that non resident parents take financial responsibility for their children.
	
		Old scheme
		
			 Application received Percentage of maintenance applications cleared within: 
			 March to February: 22 weeks 12 months 
		
		
			 2000–01 34 56 
			 2001–02 42 65 
			 2002–03 52 70 
		
	
	
		New scheme
		
			 Application received Percentage of maintenance applications cleared within: 
			 March to February: 22 weeks 12 months 
		
		
			 2003–04 46 64 
			 2004–05 46 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest whole per cent.
	2.Figures for the new scheme exclude cases which have been progressed and cleared clerically and 161,000 potential applications that had come via the Jobcentre Plus interface (80,000 of which had been cleared and 81,000 which were still outstanding as of September 2005) and for which no management information is currently available.
	3.It is not currently possible to provide figures in relation to old scheme cases received prior to the introduction of the new scheme, but migrated to the new IT system (CS2) prior to the application being cleared.
	4.Comparable data are not available for the percentage of applications received between March 2004 and February 2005 that were cleared in 12 months as a full 12 months has not yet elapsed since the end of this period.

Child Support Agency

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of non-resident parents have paid the full maintenance as determined by the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the requested information.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 16 January 2006
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of non-resident parents have paid the full maintenance as determined by the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years for which figures are available. I have provided the figures for the percentage of non-resident parents who have paid the full amount of maintenance as requested by the Agency, for the last five years for which data is available. These figures present a view as at August in each year the most recent point in time for which comparable information in earlier years is available.
	The figures provided in the table for August 2004 and 2005 include both new and old scheme, on both systems.
	
		Percentage of non-resident parents who paid the full amount of maintenance (Overall Agency)
		
			 Quarter ending August: Old scheme old system New and old scheme 
		
		
			 2000 49 — 
			 2001 47 — 
			 2002 53 — 
			 2003 55 — 
			 2004 — 46 
			 2005 — 46 
		
	
	Note:
	New scheme was introduced 3 March 2003 but reliable data for the six months to August 2003 is currently not available for new and old scheme cases on the new computer system.
	To place these figures into context, it should be noted that, whilst only 46 per cent. of non-resident parents paid their maintenance liability in full over the quarter ending August 2005, the Agency obtained a payment from 70 per cent. of cases in which maintenance was due via the collection service, with the remainder of non-resident parents, not taking any financial responsibility for their children. Where any such payment was obtained, on average, 90 per cent. of the amount due was collected.
	I hope you find this response helpful and apologise for the delay in providing this response.

Departmental Data

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methods his Department employs to ensure that its data are up-to-date, with particular reference to information on people who have (a) moved house and (b) died.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions makes every effort to ensure that its data is accurate, up-to-date and relevant. It employs different methods according to the type of data it holds in relation to change of address and death details.
	Where people move house there is no obligation on them as individuals to notify my Department of such a change unless they are in receipt of benefit, where checks are made at the start of the claim and in certain benefits at specified points during the course of the claim. However, through closer working with other Government Departments, particularly Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), my Department receives on a daily basis, changes of address notified to HMRC for their customers who are in employment, claiming tax credits or liable for income tax or national insurance contributions. In addition to this, my Department fully supports cross-government data sharing initiatives such as the setting up of a National Identity Register for ID Cards in order to maintain the integrity of its data. If the person moving home is in receipt of housing benefit or council tax benefit processes are in place for local authorities to notify my Department of the change.
	When a person dies, my Department is notified of the death by the Office of National Statistics (for England and Wales), the General Registrar's Office (Scotland) and the General Registrar's Office (Northern Ireland). These data are recorded centrally and, where appropriate, forwarded to the relevant benefit system to suspend payment of benefit and alert staff to the need to take action on specific cases. In addition to this, many relatives, friends and next of kin of the deceased person notify the death direct to the Department when benefit is in payment or bereavement benefit claimed, providing copies of the death certificate. Between these processes my Department captures the death data within a matter of weeks. As modernisation programmes progress in registrations of death, plans are in place to automate the notifications from ONS (England and Wales) and GRO (Scotland), making the process quicker and more efficient.

Departmental Expenditure

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department and its agencies have spent on (a) the design and production of new logos and (b) employing external (i) public relations and (ii) graphic design agencies in each year since 2000, broken down by project.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research projects commissioned by his Department are being undertaken; and what the publication arrangements are in each case.

Anne McGuire: Research projects currently being undertaken that have been commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions are outlined in the following list.
	Project name:
	The Pension Service Customer Survey 2005
	Micro-employers attitudes to employee pension provision
	Evaluation of automatic state pension forecasts
	Design of the evaluation of the Pension Education Fund
	Evaluation of The Pension Service Partnership Fund
	Overcoming barriers to Pension Credit Take-Up
	Overcoming barriers to Pension Credit Take-Up: Qualitative research with Pension Credit Eligible non-recipients
	Attitudes to Pensions Survey
	Pensions and Savings research: Focus Groups
	The International Pensions Centre Customer Survey
	Pensions and Savings research: Omnibus questions
	Survey of Annuity pricing
	Evaluation of Pension Increase Pledge
	The effects of means-testing pensions on savings and retirement
	Understanding older people's experiences of poverty and material deprivation—quantitative element
	Understanding older people's experiences of poverty and material deprivation—qualitative element
	The importance of incentives in influencing private retirement savings: known knowns and unknowns
	Savings incentives—Understanding the interactions of long term savings and debt
	Employers Pension Provision Survey 2005
	Which pensioners don't spend their income and why?
	Self-employed: Work and Saving for retirement
	Retirement Planner: Proof of concept work
	Qualitative evaluation of the Intensive Activity period for 50+
	Transitions to and from activity for the over 50s
	Work and Retirement Literature Review
	Work and Retirement Literature Review
	Age Legislation: Qualitative research with employers (and secondary dataset analysis subject to funding )
	Intensive Activity Period for 50+—Qualitative
	Macroeconomic Modelling of savings scenarios
	Initial Evaluation of the Phase 1 Age Partnership Group Be Ready" National Guidance Campaign products
	Age and Training Phase 2
	Encouraging Cultural Change: Communication about extending working life
	Poverty and large families
	Intergenerational Child Poverty
	Understanding debt
	Poverty—Bucking The Trend
	Administrative Datasets for Measuring Impacts on Disadvantage
	Families, Health and Work
	Examining the position of the public sector in relation to the provisions of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (coming into force October 2004) and the new Disability Discrimination Bill
	Disability Communications
	Economic and Social Costs and Benefits to employers for recruiting, retaining and employing disabled people and/or people with health conditions or injury
	Information needs for disabled people
	Job Retention and Rehabilitation Evaluation
	Fair Cities Evaluation
	Jobcentre Plus National Customer Satisfaction Survey 2005 (Ethnic Minority Booster)
	Overarching thematic analysis of Jobcentre Plus employment policies for ex-offenders
	Jobcentre Plus Local Office Traffic Survey
	Jobseekers Mandatory Activity Pilots Evaluation
	Job Outcome Target quantitative evaluation strand
	Evaluation of Jobcentre Plus Job Outcome Target Pilots: Stage Three
	Job Outcome Target Pilots' Evaluation: Summary Report
	Evaluation of the New Deal Plus Project
	Clusters of workless couples and their employment transitions: Phase 1
	Review of Action Teams for Jobs
	Work Based Learning for Adults—Longer term outcomes of Work Based Learning for Adults customers
	A methodological study of barriers to work
	Annual Employer Research
	Evaluation of Pathways to Work Expansion (to a further 14 Districts)
	Evaluation of Multiple Provider Employment Zones
	Employment Zones Extensions Qualitative ( Single Provider)
	Evaluation of Working Neighbourhoods Pilot
	Maximising the Role of Outreach
	Basic Skills Mandatory Training Pilots
	Evaluation of Skills Coaching
	Systematic Review of the Impact of Adult Learning
	Base lining Survey for Financial Support for Adult Learners
	Sanctions Quantitative
	Repeat Spells
	Evaluation Extensions to Personal Adviser meetings
	Evaluation of Specialist Employment Advisers
	Secondary Analysis of New Deal for Lone Parents /Work Focused interviews Datasets
	Perceptions and Experiences in Jobcentre Plus
	Part-time Work seminar
	Customer Case Management
	Survey of Employers Practices
	Ethnic Minority Populations and the Labour Market: Analysis of the 2001 Census
	Barriers to Employment: Pakistani and Bangladeshi
	Ethnic Parity in Jobcentre Plus Programmes and Mainstream Services
	Lone Parent and Partner Pilots: In Work Credit, Work Search Premium and Quarterly Work Focused Interviews Qualitative Evaluation
	Lone Parent In Work Credit, Work Search Premium, Extended Schools Child Care , Childcare Tasters and Quarterly Work Focused Interviews Impact Evaluation
	Work focused Interviews and New Deal for Partners Evaluation (Quantitative)
	Work focused Interviews and New Deal for Partners Evaluation (Qualitative)
	Family and Children's Survey
	Review of Family and Children's Survey
	Survey of New Deal for Disabled People Registrants, cohort three: additional analysis of dataset
	Evaluation of New Deal for Disabled People Extensions
	The impact of Incapacity Benefit Pilots (Condition Management Programme) on participants health related quality of life
	Routes onto Incapacity Benefits—quantitative work
	Statutory Sick Pay Feasibility Project
	Literature review of the scientific evidence regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on behalf of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
	WORKSTEP Evaluation
	WORKSTEP Modernisation Funds Evaluation
	British Social Attitudes Survey (Welfare Module)
	Contribution to the Millennium birth Cohort
	Contribution to the General household survey
	Attitudes to making adjustments to common parts in rented and leased residential accommodation
	Claimants and advisers awareness of and attitudes to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as an In-Work Benefit
	Housing Benefit Control for Gypsy Site Rents
	Claimants motivations for reporting changes of circumstances
	Local Housing Authority Pathfinders
	An Investigation of Child Support Agency Maintenance Direct payments—Qualitative research
	An Investigation of Child Support Agency Maintenance Direct Payments—Quantitative research
	European Social Fund Objective 3 Beneficiary Survey
	Evaluation of the impact of co-financing on European Social Fund Objectives
	Survey of European Social Fund Objectives
	Update to the mid-term Evaluation of the European Social Fund Community Support Framework
	Developing Policy: Positive Action Policies
	Public Awareness Research
	Conversion of PDF research files using ORC software and future conversion of hard copy research using ORC software
	Evaluation Databases
	What Works? Literature review and meta-analysis
	Linking English Longitudinal Study of Ageing data to administrative data: documenting the process and access arrangements
	Evaluation of CMS version3
	Externally commissioned research findings are released publicly, the vast majority appearing in the Department's Research Report Series which is available both in hard copy and for download from the website (http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/)

Departmental Staff

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department spent on activities relating to the recruitment of head count to the Department in each year from 1997; what the latestestimates are for (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EU Directive on Working at Heights

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications for sport of the EU directive on working at heights.

Anne McGuire: While we are keen to promote all sporting activity on the basis of sensible risk, in this case no assessment is required. This is because the directive and regulations only apply to persons at work and not to private individuals participating in sports activities.

Gershon Review

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Gershon review in his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Department is on track to meet its Gershon review efficiency targets. Progress against the targets has been reported in the department's autumn performance report which was laid before Parliament on 15 December 2005.

Habitual Residence Test

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, column 1048W, on the Habitual Residence Test, if he will change the rules for non-contributory benefits so that those who make sufficient contributions to a contributory benefit to enable them to obtain half of the maximum are deemed to have passed the habitual residency test.

James Plaskitt: The Habitual Residence Test is only applied to income-related benefits and people who qualify for a contributory benefit such as contribution based jobseeker's allowance will not be subject to the test. There is already provision in regulations which allows EEA nationals who have been working in the UK to be treated as habitually resident if they claim an income-related benefit. In line with EC case law, a returning UK national who has previously worked in the UK is likely to pass the Habitual Residence Test immediately. Non-EEA nationals who work in the UK are usually subject to immigration control and have no recourse to public funds. As such they have no access to income-related benefits and therefore would not be subject to the Habitual Residence Test.

Job Vacancies (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies there were in each London borough per 1,000 working age population on the most recent date for which figures are available; how many there were 12 months prior to this date; and what the current national vacancy rate is per 1,000 of working age population.

Margaret Hodge: The number of vacancies remains at a historically high level. More than 10,000 new vacancies are placed at Jobcentres every working day and at least as many again are filled through other recruitment channels.
	The latest vacancy survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates there were 600.2 thousand unfilled vacancies in the quarter to November 2005, compared to 641.7 thousand this time last year. The ONS vacancy ratio for the UK for November 2005 (the latest data) is 2.3. This is the number of vacancies per 100 employee jobs.
	The specific information requested for London is not available. The available information on recorded unfilled Jobcentre Plus vacancies for the London boroughs at November 2004 and 2005 is in the table.
	
		
			  November 2004 November 2005 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,995 1,138 
			 Barnet 3,946 2,313 
			 Bexley 2,078 1,513 
			 Brent 3,506 2,658 
			 Bromley 2,578 2,275 
			 Camden 3,704 1,746 
			 City of London 732 772 
			 Croydon 4,971 3,361 
			 Baling 3,854 3,071 
			 Enfield 3,514 2,159 
			 Greenwich 1,798 1,106 
			 Hackney 1,522 1,096 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,439 1,406 
			 Haringey 2,537 1,387 
			 Harrow 2,035 1,267 
			 Havering 2,683 1,693 
			 Hillingdon 4,075 3,404 
			 Hounslow 2,677 2,670 
			 Islington 3,197 4,151 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,316 1,280 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 2,011 1,664 
			 Lambeth 2,823 1,732 
			 Lewisham 2,021 1,561 
			 Merton 2,776 1,815 
			 Newham 2,386 1,733 
			 Redbridge 2,045 1,411 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 1,547 1,239 
			 Southwark 2,530 1,818 
			 Sutton 2,298 1,471 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,403 1,657 
			 Waltham Forest 2,290 1,189 
			 Wandsworth 3,146 3,305 
			 Westminster, City of 8,598 4,118 
			 Total 91,031 65,179

Pension Credit

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change in take-up of pension credit has been in each quarter since it was introduced.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available. Latest estimates of pensioners' take-up of the main income-related benefits relate to financial year 2002–03 and predates the introduction of pension credit. Estimates for minimum income guarantee, the predecessor to pension credit, can be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002/2003". Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	Estimates of pension credit will be published in early 2006; this publication will include the first six months of pension credit. Estimates for the full year 2004–05 are expected to be published in May 2006. This information is only available on an annual basis.

Pension Credit

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Hendon receive pension credit (a) savings element and (b) guarantee element; what the average award was in each case in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The available information is in the table.
	
		Pension credit recipients in the Hendon constituency as at 30 September 2005 with pension credit average amounts for recipients in the Hendon constituency as at 16 September 2005
		
			  Household recipients 
			   Recipients Average amounts (£ per week) 
		
		
			 All 4,300 64.55 
			 Guarantee credit (GC) only 2,300 93.16 
			 Savings credit (SC) only 600 10.58 
			 GC and SC 1,500 40.63 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Caseloads are rounded to the nearest hundred, average amounts are given to the nearest penny.
	2.Pension credit (PC) replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) on 6 October 2003. Existing MIG recipients were automatically converted onto pension credit on that date (assuming they still met the eligibility criteria).
	3.PC data from the Generalised Matching Service (CMS) 100 per cent. scan taken on 16 September 2005. The caseloads have been rated up to give month-end estimates, but the average amounts have been supplied in an un-adjusted form, therefore they are representative of 16 September 2005.
	4.These figures are early estimates. Operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in the figures. The final figures incorporated within the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) will take account of such cases.
	Source:
	Information Directorate 100 per cent. data

Post Office Card Accounts

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department allows the Post Office to recognise representatives acting under Power of Attorney with regard to accessing Post Office card accounts; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Post Office card account is a banking product owned by Post Office Ltd., and it is for them to set the terms by which they and the customer agree to operate the account under the usual Financial Services Authority licences and regulations. The Post Office card account does not support Power of Attorney.
	Customers who are not capable of managing their own affairs may apply to have a person appointed by the Secretary of State to act on their behalf. An appointee can open a Post Office card account in their own name to receive any benefit or pension paid to them in respect of the customer.
	Most banks and building societies have accounts (many of which are accessible at the Post Office) that will allow someone, including a person who holds Power of Attorney, to access a customer's account. The precise arrangements will depend on the type of account held and with which account provider.

Stakeholder Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of stakeholder pensions.

Stephen Timms: Stakeholder pensions were introduced to provide a good value pension option for moderate earners who do not have access to an occupational pension scheme or to a cost effective personal pension plan. Figures from HM Revenue and Customs for the 2003–04 tax year, the latest available, show that around two-thirds of stakeholder pensions sales have been to people in work earning less than £20,000 a year.
	Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that at 30 September 2005 2,622,160 stakeholder pensions had been sold since their introduction in April 2001.
	The impact of stakeholder pensions on saving for retirement may extend beyond their sales alone. There is evidence that annual management charges for other personal pensions fell by around a third between 1999 and 2001, to around the 1 per cent. level of stakeholder pension charges, suggesting that the stakeholder pension initiative has benefited the personal pension market as a whole.

Winter Fuel Payments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with representatives of people of pensionable age on increasing the winter fuel payment in line with fuel prices.

Stephen Timms: The Department has had no such discussions. The winter fuel payment is intended to be a significant contribution towards fuel costs and has risen above the level of inflation from £20 in winter 1997–98 to £200 from winter 2000–01 and to £300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 2003–04. We have no plans to increase the winter fuel payment.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Bail Requests

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many police requests for denial of bail were received by Northamptonshire magistrates in the last year for which figures are available; and how many such requests were turned down.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available. The Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform does not hold information on police requests for denial of bail.

Child Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many cases of separation where children are involved consent orders have been set by the courts on the level of child maintenance to be paid in each of the last 10 years.

Harriet Harman: This information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Civil Servants

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what proportion of each Civil Service grade in her Department is located in each (a) region and (b) nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Cabinet Office will write to the hon. Member with details for the civil service of the percentage of staff in post by region and grade responsibility and the median salary of staff in post by region and grade responsibility as at 1 April 2004. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Secretary of State will reply to the letter dated 22 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. S. Ali.

Harriet Harman: The Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor wrote to the hon. Member on 21 December in response to his letter of 22 November.

Court House (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statementon proposals to build a new court house at Colchester.

Harriet Harman: The Essex magistrates court scheme, of which Colchester is part, continues to be within the programme of new court projects. However, my Department is still finalising investment plans, as part of the development of a Business and Estates Strategy for Her Majesty's Court Service. A further announcement will be made once spending plans have been agreed with Treasury. As part of our continuing commitment to the Essex magistrates court scheme, we are currently in the process of purchasing a site for the new courthouse in Colchester. The purchase is expected to be completed by the end of March 2006.

Criminal Justice (Statistics)

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the requirement to collect data on women and the criminal justice system to enable criminal justice bodies to monitor the impact of policies on women under the proposed gender equality duty in the Equality Bill.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	The Office for Criminal Justice Reform is monitoring the passage of the Equality Bill and the duties it will place on criminal justice bodies, including the impact of policies on women. We will take forward our obligations once the regulations have been laid later this year.

Crown Court Hearings

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many Crown court hearings were (a) held and (b) scheduled and then subsequently postponed in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Northamptonshire in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: Figures relating to how many Crown court hearings were (a) held and (b) scheduled and then subsequently postponed in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Northamptonshire in each year since 1997, can be found in the tables.
	The figures in the following table show the number of hearings arranged, those which took place, and those which were removed from the list before the hearing date.
	
		England and Wales
		
			  Number of cases 
			  Hearings fixed Effective hearings Removed 
		
		
			 1997–98 368,140 340,243 27,897 
			 1998–99 917,778 847,641 70,137 
			 1999–2000 915,660 841,374 74,286 
			 2000–01 895,241 822,468 72,773 
			 2001–02 1,020,015 944,142 75,873 
			 2002–03 1,153,383 1,066,030 87,353 
			 2003–04 1,188,600 1,100,748 87,852 
			 2004–05 1,177,854 1,089,488 88,366 
			 2005–06 898,283 828,232 70,051 
		
	
	
		Northamptonshire
		
			  Number of cases 
			  Hearings fixed Effective hearings Removed 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,556 2,159 397 
			 1998–99 9,173 7,900 1,273 
			 1999–2000 11,116 9,248 1,868 
			 2000–01 9,042 7,498 1,544 
			 2001–02 8,219 6,774 1,445 
			 2002–03 11,618 9,424 2,194 
			 2003–04 12,619 10,452 2,167 
			 2004–05 12,473 10,342 2,131 
			 2005–06 9,848 8,265 1,583

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by her Department in each year since May 1997.

Harriet Harman: Since its inception in June 2003, my Department has used consultants to support its wide-ranging and fast-paced programme of modernisation and change, to increase efficiency, provide better customer service, and value for money for the taxpayer.
	Information on consultancy expenditure is not held centrally, and is collected once a year for the previous financial year from the Department, its Executive agencies and NDPB's.
	The exercise relating to expenditure in 2004–05 is under way, and on completion details will be sent to the hon. Member.
	Expenditure with consultants in year 2003–04 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) DCA and Court Service 9,016,488 
			 (b) (i) Legal Services Commission 319,800 
			 Information Commissioner 417,429 
			 (ii) Public Guardianship Office 766,200 
			 Court Service (56)— 
		
	
	(56)Included in DCA figure.
	(c) Information on expenditure by independent statutory bodies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost

Departmental Expenditure

John Spellar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much her Department spent on bottled water in 2004–05.

Harriet Harman: My Department has a contract for the provision of chilled water and water coolers. The cost of this contract in 2004–05 was £16,734.00 but this is solely for mains fed water machines. Bottled water is occasionally supplied by our caterers for meetings; it isnot possible to separate the cost of this from overall refreshment costs.
	This answer relates solely to the Department for Constitutional Affairs, HQ Estate and not to Her Majesty's Court Service, related agencies or NDPB's as to gather this information would incur a disproportionate cost.

Electoral Administration

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of returning officers submitted their form Ks after the general election on time and with all the information supplied; which returning officers failed to submit a form K; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Election Commission collate and publish data held on the form Ks, as part of their remit to report on UK parliamentary elections.
	In their report Election 2005: turnout", the Commission noted that some or all the data on postal voting take-up was missing for 35 constituencies in England and one constituency in Wales.

Electoral Register

Gavin Strang: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how local authority registration officers keep the electoral register up to date regarding deaths.

Harriet Harman: Under the representation of the People Regulations 2001, electoral registration officers (EROs) have access to the records of the local registrar of births, marriages and deaths for the purpose of their registration duties. EROs will also act upon any information received from other sources, such as the family of a deceased person.

Fine Defaulting

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether Operation Payback Two was used in the Southend West constituency.

Harriet Harman: All 42 magistrates court areas took partin Operation Payback Two. Essex ran Operation Payback Two from 29 November through to 3 December, with visits to Southend West taking place on 1 December.
	Essex collected £65,790 during the initiative.

Innovations Fund

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what criteria were used in making the decision not to make a statement to Parliament on the Department's plans to introduce an Innovations Fund for elections.

Harriet Harman: The Innovations Fund is a small funding programme that is now available from the Democratic Engagement Branch of the DCA.
	The Innovations Fund will provide seed funding of £10,000 to up to 10 projects that will build, test and evaluate new tools, both online and offline, that will facilitate democratic engagement between Government and the public or between members of the public.
	The Innovations Fund is a small, trial project with a maximum budget of £100,000 that is not directly related to the election process. It was therefore not considered to be of a large enough scale to announce in Parliament.
	All projects funded by the Innovations Fund will have robust contracts in place to ensure that funding is allocated appropriately. The Innovations Fund is separate from proposals for administrative pilots at the May 2006 elections.

Innovations Fund

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what types of projects may be funded under the Department's elections Innovations fund pilots.

Harriet Harman: The Innovations fund is a small funding programme that is now available from the Democratic Engagement Branch of the DCA.
	The Innovations fund will provide seed funding of approximately £10,000 to up to 10 projects that will build, test and evaluate new tools that will facilitate democratic engagement between elections, either online or offline, between government and the public or between members of the public.
	The Innovations fund is not related to elections per se, but instead will fund projects that will explore ways of motivating and mobilising citizens to participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and their communities in between elections.
	The Innovations fund is separate from proposals for administrative pilots at the May 2006 elections.

Judges

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) Crown court and (b) appeal court judges were convicted of a criminal offence in each year since 1975.

Harriet Harman: Convictions for serious criminal offences (i.e. those potentially or actually carrying a sentence of imprisonment) are considered by the Lord Chancellor as incompatible with holding judicial office. In the period since 1975, there has only been one such conviction (for smuggling) and the circuit judge in question was removed by the Lord Chancellor in 1983. The information on other convictions is not held centrally.

Judges

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the judiciary in Chelmsford on the reform of the judges' lodging system; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I have had no discussions with the judiciary in Chelmsford on the reform of the judges' lodgings system.

Judges

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost was of each judge's lodging housing a judge sitting in Chelmsford Crown court in each of the last five years for which figures are available; on how many nights they were used by judges in each year; how many staff were employed in such lodgings in each year; and what the (a) capital value is of each freehold property and (b) surrender value is of each leasehold property.

Harriet Harman: There is only one judges' lodgings used by the High Court Judiciary sitting at Chelmsford Crown court. The property is owned by Essex county council and is hired as serviced accommodation under the terms of a license. I am therefore unable to supply the information on staffing, capital value, and the surrender value. The other information is given as follows.
	
		
			  Total spend (£) Judge nights occupation 
		
		
			 2000–01 107,853.64 69 
			 2001–02 114,388.17 145 
			 2002–03 138,406.16 142 
			 2003–04 103,069.09 115 
			 2004–05 87,192.20 66

Judicial Pension Schemes

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the written statement of 15 December 2005, Official Report, column162WS, on judicial pensions, what the evidential basis is for the deregistering of judicial pension schemes having no net cost; and if she will give an estimate for the (a) cost and (b) saving of each component of the reforms.

Harriet Harman: Changes in payments to, and contributions payable by, judges will be balanced by tax revenue; and higher employers national insurance contributions will be payments within Government.

Judicial Pension Schemes

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what proportion of judges she estimates will have pension funds larger than £1.5 million in each of the next five years.

Harriet Harman: No information is held on judges' personal pension arrangements and it is therefore not possible to provide such an estimate.

Judicial Pension Schemes

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the tax yield from judges' pensions if they were subject to the provisions of the Finance Act 2004.

Harriet Harman: It is not possible to provide an estimate of any lifetime allowance charge liability as this would depend on a number of factors, including the level of personal pension benefits, the effect of any relief under the transitional provisions of the Finance Act and the order in which judges chose to vest their personal and judicial pensions.

Magistrates

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the criteria are for appointing magistrates.

Harriet Harman: Candidates for the magistracy must be between 18 and 65 years of age and must demonstrate at interview each of the following six key qualities: good character, understanding and communication, social awareness, maturity and sound temperament, sound judgment, and commitment and reliability. Details of those factors which will act as a bar to appointment are set out in the Lord Chancellor's directions to Advisory Committees, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Voting Systems

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Government review of the proportional voting systems used for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and European Parliament elections.

Harriet Harman: The Government review of the experiences of the new UK voting systems introduced for the devolved Administrations, the European Parliament and London assembly elections being conducted by officials within my Department is under way, and any decisions on any next steps, if necessary, will be taken in due course.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when her Department last undertook an evidence review into the long-term consequences of abortion on women, with particular reference to (a) depression, (b) drug misuse, (c) anxiety, (d) attempted suicide and (e) alcoholism, that drew on (i) UK and (ii) international research; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will commission an independent study of the long-term effects of abortion on the health of women, with particular reference to (a) depression, (b) drug misuse, (c) anxiety, (d) attempted suicide and (e) alcoholism; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The safety and psychological effects of abortion were considered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in its updated evidence-based guideline, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion" (2004). In updating the guidance, the RCOG took account of the most recent national and international evidence. This is taken into account in the recommendations concerning information for women and abortion aftercare.
	The Department has no current plans to commission an independent study of the long-term effects of abortion on the health of women, but keeps all new and emerging evidence under review.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what methodology was used by her Department to make the estimate of 25,000 in paragraph 4.10.5 of the partial regulatory impact assessment on the Prohibition of Abortion (England and Wales) Bill; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what methodology her Department used to make the conclusion in paragraph 4.10.4 of the partial regulatory impact assessment on the Prohibition of Abortion (England and Wales) Bill that 15,000 illegal abortions would take place in the United Kingdom if the Bill were passed; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: When developing the partial regulatory impact assessment (PRIA) on the Prohibition of Abortion (England and Wales) Bill officials contacted a diverse range of stakeholders to get the best possible understanding of the Bill. The number of possible illegal abortions, and abortions granted under risk to life clause of the Bill, shown in the PRIA was a best estimate based on the information provided by those stakeholders responding to the consultation and from examining what happened in other countries where access to abortion is restricted or illegal. The PRIA highlights that any outcomes would evolve over time, requiring around five years to become established.

Alcohol Misuse

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to provide (a) screening, (b) education and (c) early intervention for children and young people at risk of alcohol misuse.

Caroline Flint: The Department for Education and Skills have lead responsibility for ensuring that school pupils are educated about the effects of drinking. Alcohol education must be addressed at key stages two, three and four within the science curriculum.
	Alcohol education is a statutory part of the national curriculum, which requires all children to learn about the risks of alcohol. This sits within a broader programme of drug education since many of the attitudes and skills to enable young people to make informed choices will be the same.
	The guidance requires schools to emphasise alcohol education within their drug education programmes. It makes clear that the message should be about promoting sensible drinking and reducing the harm related to alcohol misuse. The guidance encourages schools to look at the influence of the media on attitudes towards alcohol.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has developed drug, alcohol and tobacco education schemes of work as part of the education training package for teachers. We are now working with QCA on end of key stage assessment materials that would help teachers assess progress in personal social and health education including alcohol education.
	Blueprint is the largest research programme ever run in this country to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component approach to school-based drug education. The programme covered illegal drugs, legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, and medicines.
	The programme was delivered in spring term 2004 and 2005 to 4,500 young people in 23 schools. Full results of the research will be available in 2008 although the intention is to use the experience of the programme to inform practice in the interim.
	The Department plans to commission a programme of trailblazer pilots for alcohol screening and brief interventions mainly aimed at adults but including young adults. Although the contract has still to be finalised, we have selected a consortium led by St.George's Medical School (University of London) and Newcastle University to operate these pilots and extract the learning from them to apply to a larger roll-out programme planned for the future.
	These trailblazer pilots will operate in three settings; primary care, accident and emergency (A&E) and criminal justice settings. This gives the best spread of settings to offer screening and brief interventions across the whole adult population. Young adults, particularly young men, are less likely to attend their general practice than their older counterparts but their drinking behaviour is more likely to bring a number of them into contact with A&E and the criminal justice system.

Alzheimer's Disease

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forHealth 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the implications for neuroleptic prescribing of a withdrawal of Alzheimer's disease drugs;
	(2)  whether concerns raised by the Department about National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence draft guidance on drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease have been addressed.

Jane Kennedy: I have not made such an assessment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing its guidance on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. The institute plans to publish its revised guidance on 23 January 2006. Information about NICE'S current work programme is available on the NICE'S website at www.nice.org.uk.

Aylesbury Vale PCT

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the difference between the rate of change in death rates for men and women in Aylesbury Vale between 1995 and 2004.

Caroline Flint: The information requested on the number of death rates for men and women in Aylesbury Vale is shown in the table.
	
		Death rates, per 100,000 population standardised to the European standard population, for males and females in Aylesbury Vale local authority, based on usual residence, from 1995 to 2004
		
			  Males Females 
		
		
			 1995 845 634 
			 1996 937 587 
			 1997 824 608 
			 1998 772 582 
			 1999 780 592 
			 2000 793 558 
			 2001 729 533 
			 2002 727 534 
			 2003 690 515 
			 2004 684 514 
		
	
	Source:
	Compendium of clinical and health indicators, Department of Health/National Centre for Health Outcomes Development. Based on death registrations and population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
	Death rates are subject to random fluctuation from year to year, but the underlying trend is for an improvement in death rates for both males and females. Analysis of the underlying trend shows a slightly larger annual decrease in the death rate for males than for females, from a higher starting point.
	The overall death rates for men and women combined is 7 per cent. lower than the national average.

Cancelled Operations (Devon)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled by hospitals in Devon since 1997; and what percentage of these patients had their operations rescheduled within 28 days.

Caroline Flint: The number of operations cancelled by hospitals in Devon since 1997 is shown in the table. However, the Department only collects the number of patients admitted within one month of a cancellation and not the number rescheduled. This information is also included in the table.
	
		Cancelled operations for non clinical reasons, 2001–02 to Q2 2005–06
		
			   2001–02 2002–03 
			 Org Code Organisation Last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Patients not admitted within one month of last minute cancellation Proportion of last minute cancellations admitted within one month (%) Last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Cancellations on the day of surgery Patients not admitted within 28 days of a cancellation on the day of surgery 
		
		
			 5FT East Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FR Exeter PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FV Mid Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FQ North Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FY Teignbridge PCT — — — — — — 
			 5CW Torbay PCT — — — — — — 
			 RWV Devon Partnership NHS Trust — — — — — — 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 33 1 97.0 95 95 4 
			 RH8  Royal Devon and Exeter NHS  Foundation Trust 579 155 73.2 735 699 136 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 691 194 71.9 431 295 38 
			  Total 1,303 350 73.1 1,261 1,089 178 
		
	
	
		
			   2003–04 2004–05 
			   Last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Patients not admitted within 28 days of a last minute cancellation Proportion of last minute cancellations admitted within 28 days (%) Last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Patients not admitted within 28 days of a last minute cancellation Proportion of last minute cancellations admitted within 28 days (%) 
		
		
			 5FT East Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FR Exeter PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FV Mid Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FQ North Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon PCT — — — — — — 
			 5FY Teignbridge PCT — — — — — — 
			 5CW Torbay PCT — — — — — — 
			 RWV Devon Partnership NHS Trust — — — — — — 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 97 1 99.9 168 1 99.4 
			 RH8  Royal Devon and Exeter NHS  Foundation Trust 445 2 99.6 372 0 100.0 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 488 1 99.8 352 0 100.0 
			  Total 1,030 4 99.6 892 1 99.9 
		
	
	
		
			   2005–06 
			   Last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons Patients not admitted within 8 days of a last minute cancellation Proportion of last minute cancellations admitted within 28 days (%) 
		
		
			 5FT East Devon PCT — — — 
			 5FR Exeter PCT — — — 
			 5FV Mid Devon PCT — — — 
			 5FQ North Devon PCT — — — 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon PCT — — — 
			 5FY Teignbridge PCT — — — 
			 5CW Torbay PCT — — — 
			 RWV Devon Partnership NHS Trust — — — 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 53 2 96.2 
			 RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust 218 0 100.0 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 100 1 99.0 
			  Total 371 3 99.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	Data are not collected for individual hospitals. Data were collected by health authority only prior to 2001–02. Trust level data were collected from 2001–02 onwards. The 2005–06 data are upto Q2 2005–06.
	We collect the number of patients admitted within one month or 28 days of a cancellation, not the number rescheduled.
	From 2002–03, the number of patients not admitted within one month was replaced by the number of patients not admitted within 28 days.
	In 2002–03, the number of patients not admitted within 28 days of a last minute cancellation was not collected.
	The number of patients not admitted within 28 days of a cancellation on the day of surgery was collected instead.
	A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation.
	For example, you are to be admitted to hospital on a Monday for an operation scheduled for the following day(Tuesday).
	If the hospital cancels your operation for non-clinical reasons on the Monday then this would count as a last minute cancellation.
	This includes patients who have not actually arrived in hospital and have been telephoned at home prior to their arrival.
	An operation which is rescheduled to a time within 24 hours of the original scheduled operation should be recorded as a postponement and not as a cancellation.
	The QMCO collection does not record the number of postponements.
	Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; admin error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable.
	Source:
	Department of Health dataset QMCO

Care Homes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded incidents of (a) theft, (b) physical abuse and (c) bullying in care homes for the elderly there were in each of the last eight years, broken down by county.

Liam Byrne: I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the information requested is only available from April 2004, when CSCI took over the work of care homes inspection and regulation from the National Care Standards Commission.
	The information is not recorded on a county basis, but by CSCI region. The number of recorded incidents of theft, physical abuse and bullying in care homes for older people between April 2004 and December 2005 in the nine CSCI regions are shown in the table.
	
		
			 CSCI region Theft Physical abuse Emotional and psychological abuse 
		
		
			 North East 41 67 19 
			 East Midlands 26 25 8 
			 South West 78 93 63 
			 West Midlands 70 63 28 
			 North West 92 114 49 
			 London 54 28 32 
			 South East 92 412 36 
			 Eastern 30 90 41 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 53 87 32 
			 Total 536 979 308 
		
	
	Note:
	A recorded incident of abuse does not mean that abuse actually took place. Upon investigation of a complaint, it might be found to be upheld, not upheld or unresolved.

Care Homes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action the Government are taking to encourage an increase in the provision of care homes for the elderly;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to encourage provision of care homes for the elderly.

Liam Byrne: The Government believe that care homes are only one of a range of options that should be available for supporting people with long-term care needs. The Green Paper, 'Independence, Well-being and Choice', published in March 2005, set out the vision for adult social care. To make that vision a reality, domiciliary care must become an increasingly important element of social care provision. Domiciliary care services can help people to remain in control of their own lives. There has been substantial investment in other care settings for older people, such as domiciliary care and extra care housing. The Government recognise that most people want to live in their own homes for as long as possible.
	The Government are promoting better planning and commissioning of care services at a local level to stabilise the long-term care sector in a way that will allow it to meet future demand.
	It is for local councils to ensure that effective arrangements are in place to meet the needs of local people.

Christmas Cards

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the cost to the NHS of sending Christmas cards in 2005.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

Coeliac Disease

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Morley and Rothwell (Colin Challen) of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2131W, on coeliac disease, if she will commission research into whether there is an adverse reaction upon coeliacs caused by consumption of genetically-modified foodstuffs.

Liam Byrne: The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The MRC does not normally allocate funds to particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. When appropriate, high quality research in particular areas of strategic importance may be given priority in competition for funds, but research excellence and importance to health continues to be the primary considerations in funding decisions. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.

Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the letter from Mark Heyes dated 23 October 2002 about matters relating to his employment at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust, which was referred to her Department by the Prime Minister's Office; and what measures she is taking to ensure that her Department's policy on whistleblowing is adhered to.

Jane Kennedy: A reply from my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn was sent on 17 December 2002 to Mark Heyes's letter dated 23 October 2002.
	Guidance on whistleblowing was issued by the Department in 1999 (HSC198). This was followed by a letter of 25 July 2003 to all national health service trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, enclosing a policy pack on whistleblowing and setting out the need for all NHS organisations to develop and review their policies.
	NHS Employers now provides guidance and support on whistleblowing. In addition, the Department funds the Public Concern at Work helpline, which offers independent legal advice to NHS employees and advises them how to raise their concerns appropriately. The Healthcare Commission assesses NHS trusts against the national standards and ensures that all trusts have a whistleblowing policy in place, with effective monitoring processes.

Cotswold and Vale PCT

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) terms of reference and (b) powers are of the turnaround team sent into the Cotswold and Vale primary care trust; and when she expects it to report.

Caroline Flint: The first stage of engagement with the turnaround teams in Cotswold and Vale primary care trust (PCT) has been to undertake an assessment of the current position.
	Following this initial assessment the strategic health authority is currently agreeing a tailored package of turnaround support with the PCT.
	The turnaround teams will support and advise the management team of the PCT on delivering the organisation's statutory duties and key national targets.

Countess of Chester Foundation Hospital

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of patients in the Countess of Chester Foundation hospital in the last period for which figures are available were normally resident in Wales.

Liam Byrne: In 2004–05, the total number of unique patients with a finished admission episode in the Countess of Chester Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust was 37,746. Of these, 6,759 (or 17.91 per cent.) unique patients were resident in Wales.
	Notes:
	Patient counts:
	Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier HESID. This identifier is based on a patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Each patient is only counted once, irrespective of the number of times that patient has been admitted within the year. Where data is incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	Finished admission episodes:
	A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	Data quality:
	Hospital episode statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The health and social care information centre liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.
	Ungrossed data:
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics. Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to assess the budget for the provision of NHS dentistry in (a) Portsmouth and (b) other primary care trust areas on the basis of need.

Rosie Winterton: Primary care trusts (PCTs) were notified of their budget allocations for 2006–07 in early December, taking into account the current provision of services and the recent expansion of personal dental services. In both Portsmouth and other PCT areas, the recent budget allocations for local commissioning of dentistry in 2006–07 onwards reflect the current provision of services in each PCT area. These budgets are ring fenced for three years and can only be used by the PCT for the provision of primary care dental services.
	In the future, the distribution of these resources within a PCT area will be a matter of local discretion. When a dentist leaves the local area or reduces his or her national health service commitment, the resources will return to the PCT to re-deploy according to local needs. PCTs may also commit additional funds from their overall allocation to augment the ring fenced dental budget and address local dental needs. The Department will continue to keep future budget allocations for dentistry under review.

Emergency Calls

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many emergency calls were answered within the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of emergency calls resulted in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times for Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Emergency calls and response times, Tees, East and North Yorkshire, 2000–01 to 2004–05 -- Thousand
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Incidents (calls resulting in response arriving at the scene) 131.6 126.6 136.7 143.2 153.4 
			   
			 Category A incidents  
			 Percentage response within 8 minutes 52.8 71.9 73.4 73.7 77.1 
			 Percentage response within 19 minutes 96.4 97.8 97.6 97.9 98.5 
			   
			 Category B/C incidents  
			 Percentage response within 8 minutes 49.3 55.8 57.1 58.1 (57)57.5 
			 Percentage response within 19 minutes 96.1 96.5 95.4 95.7 (57)94.8 
			   
			 Category B incidents  
			 Percentage response within 8 minutes n/a n/a n/a n/a (58)55.6 
			 Percentage response within 19 minutes n/a n/a n/a n/a (58)94.8 
		
	
	(57)Data for April 2004 to September 2004.
	(58)Data for October 2004 to March 2005; prior to this, category B data not available separately.
	Source:
	HSCIC return KA34

Equity Audits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what equity audits have been undertaken by her Department to assess the health of vulnerable groups.

Caroline Flint: The Department have not undertaken any health equity audits. Health equity audit is a key tool to be used by the national health service to embed evidence of local inequalities into mainstream activity such as planning, commissioning and service delivery. Health equity audit is a mandatory part of primary care trust planning and the topic for each health equity audit is down to local determination by the NHS trust and their partners. The Choosing Health White Paper Delivering Choosing Health (2005)" set out the intention to extend health and wellbeing equity audits to other NHS trusts and local authorities.

Healthy Living Centres

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the range of services provided by healthy living centres.

Caroline Flint: Healthy living centres (HLCs) in England provide, or host, a wide range of services for their local communities. These include mainstream health promotion services local facilities including community cafes and activities such as dance and tai chi. The mix of services and facilities varies widely between individual HLCs.

Hearing Services

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long the waiting times are for (a) a hospital hearing test and (b) the fitting of a hearing aid in the health districts covering Sedgefield and Worthing; and what the equivalent waiting times were in 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available centrally. However, from January 2006, a new monthly commissioner-based diagnostic data collection will be introduced. This will look at waiting times and activity for 15 diagnostic tests or procedures, including pure tone audiometry.

Hypothermia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to make the elderly more aware of hypothermia.

Liam Byrne: The Government are engaged in a large number of initiatives designed to make older people more aware of the dangers of hypothermia. These are the same as those designed to heighten awareness of the dangers of cold generally and include:
	The 'Keep Warm Keep Well' campaign launched this year with the flu immunisation campaign and a leaflet and helpline-based advice on what simple measures older people can take to preserve their health in winter time.
	Flu and pneumococcal immunisation programmes. The United Kingdom has the highest uptake of flu immunisation among eligible groups of any in Europe.
	Helping to set up the health, housing and fuel poverty forum in March 2005, to raise the profile of cold, damp homes and to mainstream the many innovative activities the national health service is engaged in to address this issue.
	Establishing the £60 million Partnerships for Older People Projects fund. The focus of these projects is on improving outcomes for older people through preventive interventions. Fuel poverty reduction forms a part in several of these.
	Direct encouragement to the NHS to increase further the many fuel poverty reduction partnerships between the NHS, local authorities and, for example, Warm Front. These lead to primary care staff being trained and supported, simplified referral routes and rapid response from Warm Front and others.

Influenza Vaccinations

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1571W, on influenza inoculations, whether any priorities for the recipients of the two to three million doses of the H5N1 vaccine being purchased have been determined in addition to the healthcare workers referred to.

Caroline Flint: We are in the process of gathering expert advice on the optimal strategy for use of H5N1 vaccine. No decisions have yet been made.

IVF Treatment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) how many primary care trusts restrict funding for IVF treatment to women aged 30 years and over;
	(2)  what action she is taking to ensure that primary care trusts meet the clinical criteria set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guidelines on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems.

Caroline Flint: Information about the number of primary care trusts restricting funding for in-vitro fertilisation treatment for women aged 30 years and over is not collected centrally. We are discussing with Infertility Network UK, the leading voluntary organisation representing the interests of fertility patients, ways in which they can work with primary care trusts to help ensure that the patients' voice is heard when decisions about the provision of services are made at local level.

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements have been made to the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of mal de debarquement syndrome on the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We are not aware of any improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition.

Maternity Centres

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the level of use of midwife-led maternity centres;
	(2)  how many midwife-led maternity centres have been in operation in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many midwife-led maternity centres have shut in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  what assessment her Department has made of the impact on mothers of travelling further while in labour as a result of the closure of local maternity services;
	(5)  what proportion of births took place in midwife-led maternity centres in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: It is for primary care trusts and national health service trusts to determine the level of midwife-led maternity care required locally. A survey of patients conducted on behalf of the Department 1 asking for a preference as to where the next delivery would take place found 20.4 per cent. wanted to give birth in a midwife-led unit.
	Under the maternity standard of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services, published in September 2004, NHS maternity care providers and primary care trusts (PCTs) are required to ensure that the range of antenatal, birth and post-birth care services available locally constitutes real choice for women.
	Information on the number of midwife-led maternity centres that have been in operation or shut in each of the last 10 years is not collected centrally.
	It is for local PCTs and NHS trusts to assess the impact reconfiguring maternity services will have on mothers to be.
	Information on the proportion of births that took place in midwife-led maternity centres is not collected centrally.
	1 Different models of maternity care: an evaluation of the roles of primary health care workers, Hewison J, Renfrew M J, Gregson B, Young G, Braunholtz D, Dowswell T, Hirst J, Ross-McGill H. 2003

Mobility Equipment

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many outstanding requests for mobility equipment for children under the age of 16 there are; what the average waiting time for mobility equipment is; how many children are registered as requiring disability equipment; how many children are on the waiting list for disability equipment; if she will break down the information in each category by parliamentary constituency; and what procedures are in place to ensure mobility equipment is provided to similar cases.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

MRI Scans

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received regarding waiting times for MRI scans.

Liam Byrne: Written representations have been received from hon. and right hon. Members and the public.

New-born Children (Low Birth Weight)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of children were born with a low birth weight in each year from 197576; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what percentage of children were born with a low birthweight in each year from 19751976 to 20052006. (41309)
	The attached table shows the information requested. The latest available figures are for 2004. Birthweight information for liveborn babies is currently provided by primary care organisations to Registrars of births, deaths and marriages in their area for recording on the draft birth entry. This is then made available to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for statistical purposes. Prior to 1982 this birthweight information was not made available to Registrars for a large proportion of liveborn babies. For this reason figures for the period 1975 to 1981 are taken from the DHSS annual summaries of LHS 27/1 low birthweight returns. On the returns for these years, low birthweight was defined as 2,500 grams and under.
	Figures from 1982 are based on the information available to ONS and is based on the World Health Organisation's definition of low birthweight (under 2,500 grams).
	
		Percentage of live born babies with low birth weight(59)(5508620060), England and Wales 19752004
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1975(59) 6.4 
			 1976 6.4 
			 1977 6.5 
			 1978 6.5 
			 1979 6.7 
			 1980 6.8 
			 1981 6.8 
			 1982(60) 6.7 
			 1983 6.7 
			 1984 6.7 
			 1985 6.8 
			 1986 6.9 
			 1987 6.8 
			 1988 6.6 
			 1989 6.7 
			 1990 6.8 
			 1991 6.9 
			 1992 6.8 
			 1993 6.9 
			 1994 7.0 
			 1995 7.3 
			 1996 7.3 
			 1997 7.4 
			 1998 7.5 
			 1999 7.6 
			 2000 7.6 
			 2001 7.6 
			 2002 7.7 
			 2003 7.7 
			 2004 7.6 
		
	
	(59)For the years 197581: low birth weight was defined as 2,500g and under.
	(60)For the years 19822004: low birth weight was defined as less than 2,500g.
	Sources:
	Birth Counts volume 2, The Stationery Office. Published 2000. ISBN 0 11 620917 8
	Table A3.4.1 19751981, Table A3.4.2 19821992
	ONS Series FM1 Birth statistics 19932004

NHS Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial position of (a) the Thames Valley strategic health authority, (b) Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, (c) Wycombe primary care trust, (d) Buckinghamshire mental health trust and (e) Two Shires ambulance trust was during 200405; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 12 January 2006
	The 200405 audited financial position of all national health service organisations, strategic health authorities (SHAs) primary care trusts and NHS trusts is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOflnformation/ClassesOflnformation/fs/en.
	A copy of this information is available in the Library.

NHS Rationing (BMJ Correspondence)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received about the recent letter published online in the British Medical Journal, on rationing in response to NHS deficits: by Professor Sheena Asthana.

Liam Byrne: We have received only one representation and that was from the hon. Member.

NHS Staff (Overseas Recruitment)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on the levels of recruitment of doctors from overseas of her proposal to abolish the register of medical practitioners with limited registration.

Jane Kennedy: Abolishing the provisions for limited registration will make little or no difference to numbers. Its main effects will be to reduce bureaucracy, freeing resources for patient care, and remove a source of potential discrimination.

Non-emergency Operations

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2737W, on non-emergency operations, 
	(1)  if she will list other providers in England, including independent hospitals and treatment centres, which treat NHS patients for (a) knee replacement surgery, (b) cataract surgery, (c) hernia repair and (d) hip replacement surgery;
	(2)  when she will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 12 October 2005, on non-emergency operations, reference 18887.

Liam Byrne: Information on the services provided in England by providers contracted to set up independent sector treatment centres under the central procurements is shown in the table.
	Information on other independent sector providers commissioned locally is not collected centrally.
	
		
			 Programme name Strategic health authority Specialties Provider Operational status 
		
		
			 East Cornwall South West Peninsula General Surgery, Urology, Trauma and orthopaedics, ENT, Oral surgery, General medicine, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Thoracic medicine, Rheumatology, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Dietetics, Physio assessment, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery Capio Interim 
			  
			 East Lincs Trent Ophthalmology, urology, hernias, varicose veins, colonoscopies, and minor skin Capio Full service 
			  
			 West Lincs Trent Ophthalmology, gastroscopies, colonoscopies, orthopaedic, urology and minor skin Capio Full service 
			  
			 North Oxford (Horton) Thames Valley Orthopaedics Capio Full service 
			  
			 NEYNL North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire General Surgery, Trauma and orthopaedics Capio Interim 
			  
			 Southampton Hampshire and Isle of Wight Orthopaedics Capio Full service 
			  
			 Northumberland Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Upper scopes, hernias, varicose veins, minor skin Capio Full service 
			  
			 TV3500 Thames Valley General Surgery, Urology Trauma and orthopaedics, Dermatology, Gynaecology Capio Interim 
			  
			 GC4 West Surrey (tba) Surrey and Sussex Orthopaedics Capio Under negotiation 
			  
			 Kidderminster West Midlands South Orthopaedics InterHealth Full service 
			  
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Cheshire and Merseyside Orthopaedics InterHealth Not operational 
			  
			 Nottingham Trent Orthopaedic, Gynaecology, General surgical, Dermatology, Endoscopies, Oral Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Chronic Pain Nations Not operational 
			  
			 Maidstone Kent and Medway Chemotherapy, minor surgery and endoscopes PHG Not operational 
			  
			 Outer North East London (BHRT) North East London Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Oral, General Surgery, Urology PHG Not operational 
			  
			 Brighton Surrey and Sussex Orthopaedics Mercury Health Interim 
			  
			 Medway Kent and Medway General Surgery, Gastroenterology, ENT, Orthopaedics, Urology, Diagnosticsendoscopy only Mercury Health Full service 
			  
			 Portsmouth Hampshire and Isle of Wight Walk in centre/minor injuries unit, day surgery, diagnostics, ophthalmology Mercury Health Not operational 
			  
			 Lister Surgical centre Beds and Herts Paediatrics, Paediatric ENT, endoscope, urology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and other specialities  Under negotiation 
			  
			 Hemel Hampstead Surgical centre Beds and Herts Paediatrics, Paediatric ENT, endoscope, urology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and other specialities  Under negotiation 
			  
			 Bradford West Yorkshire General Surgery, Gastroenterology, ENT, Gynae, Ophthalmics, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Urology, Oral Surgery, Ultrasound scansgeneral, Ultrasound scansDoppler, CT scans, MRI scans, Plain films and x-rays, Fluoroscopy Nations Full service 
			  
			 Burton Shropshire and Staffordshire General Surgery, ENT, Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Urology, Oral Surgery, Rheumatology, Pain procedures, Ophthalmology Nations Not operational 
			  
			 Trent and South Yorkshire Trent Orthopaedics PHG Full service 
			  
			 Daventry Leicestershire, Northampton and Rutland Ophthalmology, Upper GI endoscopies, Sigmoidscopy, Orthopaedics, Dermatology, Urology Birkdale Clinic Full service 
			  
			 Shepton Mallet Dorset and Somerset Orthopaedics, ophthalmology, general surgery and endoscopy UK Specialist Hospitals Full service 
			  
			 Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Orthopaedic, general surgery and ENT NetCare Full service 
			 Plymouth South West Peninsula Orthopaedics PHG Full service 
			  
			 Ophthalmic Chain Cheshire and Merseyside; Cumbria and Lancashire; Dorset and Somerset; Hampshire and Isle of Wight; Kent and Medway; Northumberland, Tyne and Wear; South West Peninsula; Surrey and Sussex; Thames Valley Ophthalmology Netcare Full service 
			  
			 GSUP1 n/a Orthopaedic, ophthalmic, general surgery, ENT, plastic surgery Capio/Nuffield Completed 
			  
			 GSUP2 n/a Orthopaedic, general surgery BMI/BUPA/Nuffield Full service

Obesity

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients were referred to weight management clinics in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for obese patients to receive treatment at a weight management clinic was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not collected centrally, as data are only collected at trust level and not specialist clinic level.

Obesity

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the effectiveness of the Body Mass Index in assessing the health effects of being overweight.

Caroline Flint: Trends in overweight and obesity and their relationship to other risk factors are monitored each year through the Health Survey for England. Body fatness is most commonly assessed by body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 25 to 30 is considered overweight and greater than 30, obese. There is a graded increase in the risk of total mortality and cardiovascular mortality with increasing BMI above 25. BMI combined with waist measurement is a good indicator of obesity and associated health risks. Waist circumference levels of greater than 102 centimetres in men and greater than 80 centimetres in women are associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Paymaster

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts Paymaster has within her Department.

Jane Kennedy: The Department contract Paymaster to provide pension administration for the principal civil service pension scheme, to which the majority of established civil servants within the Department are members. The contract has been in place since April 2004 and will be due for renewal in April 2009. The Department has no other contracts with Paymaster.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned into genetic susceptibility to illness following contact with pesticides.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not commissioned any research into genetic susceptibility to illness following contact with pesticides.
	However, in deriving the acceptable exposure levels for pesticides from the required animal data, variation within the human population is part of the assessment carried out by the pesticides safety directorate, for consideration by the advisory committee on pesticides. A 100 fold factor is routinely applied to the critical dose that produces no adverse effects in the test species. The 100 is made up of 10 to extrapolate from the animals to humans (humans are considered more sensitive) and 10 to account for variation in response within the human population (individuals that are more sensitive than the norm).

Podiatry Provision (Gray Report)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the report published by the taskforce chaired by Dr. Muir Gray on podiatry provision.

Liam Byrne: The report called Feet First, published by the NHS executive in 1994, is available in the Library.

Polio

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been identified as having had an episode of polio at some time in their life in each primary care trust.

Caroline Flint: This information is not available centrally. Annual notifications of acute poliomyelitis since 1912 and a summary of cases occurring between 19852003 in the United Kingdom can be found at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/polio/data.htm.

Pre-term Labour

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given on the appropriate clinical definition of pre-term labour.

Liam Byrne: Pre-term labour is defined as the onset of labour when the foetus is viable and before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has not specifically given guidance on the incidence of pre-term labour but has produced guidelines on the administration of corticosteroids and tocolytic drugs to try and arrest pre-term labour.
	The national service framework for children, young people and maternity services published in September 2004 requires maternity care service providers and trusts to ensure that a comprehensive high quality ante-natal screening and diagnostic service, based on the current recommendations of the National Screening Committee and designed to detect maternal or foetal problems at an early stage, is offered to all women.

Primary Care Staff

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received concerning the impact of the proposals within Commissioning a Patient Led NHS on the morale of primary care staff, with particular reference to representations on the prospect of staff leaving or retiring early; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department, NHS Employers and the national health service trade unions have produced a joint framework setting out how the human resources (HR) changes, arising form Commissioning a Patient Led NHS, should be managed. The framework identifies the processes that organisations are expected to follow to ensure the changes are managed fairly, with national support underpinning local decision making.
	Following publication of the framework on 1 December, a number of questions have been received from people seeking more detailed guidance on the implications of the anticipated organisational changes. NHS Employers is providing responses to those questions through its website. In addition, NHS Employers is playing a key role in supporting NHS organisations and staff during these changes, including issuing best practice guidelines, providing employment opportunities for NHS staff through the on-line clearing house NHS Jobs, and advising on redeployment support. Local support will be provided by HR cluster leads, who will provide advice and guidance, drawing upon best practice.

School Nursing/Health Visiting

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the development of (a) school nursing and (b) health visiting services.

Liam Byrne: Though the detail of developing school nursing and health visiting services rests with primary care trusts (PCTs), we recognise the important role these nurses play in addressing health priorities. This was reinforced in the children's national service framework and the chief nursing officer's review of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting contribution to vulnerable children and young people, as well as in the White Paper, Choosing Health.
	Additionally, we are providing new funding so that by 2010 every PCT, working with children's trusts and local authorities, will have at least one full-time, year-round, qualified school nurse working with each cluster or group of primary schools and the related secondary school. Revenue allocations to PCTs covering the period 200607 and 200708 were announced in February. For the two years covered by this allocation, a total of 62 million has been identified nationally to invest in the school nurses, 20 million in 200607 and 42 million in 200708.
	Choosing Health also commits the chief nursing officer to work with nurse leaders and the Department for Education and Skills to modernise and promote school nursing and to develop a national programme for best practice that includes reviewing children's and young people's health and supporting the use of children's personal health guide.

Sexual Health

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of diagnosed sexually transmitted diseases there were in each primary care trust in London in (a) 200304 and (b) 200405.

Jane Kennedy: The number and rates of diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases made at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in each of the London strategic health authorities (SHAs) are shown on the Health Protection Agency website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hiv_and_sti/epidemiology/national2000_2004_Final.pdf.
	The dataset used to compile these data is based on diagnoses made in GUM clinics. Testing undertaken in other clinical settings, such as general practice, is not recorded in the dataset.
	The release of small area statistics is being reviewed and sexually transmitted infections data is currently only published at SHA level. The data are shown in calendar years. Data are not available for 2005.

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned into where smokers under the age of 16 years obtain their tobacco.

Caroline Flint: Data on smoking among young people are available from a series of surveys of secondary school children. The main purpose of the surveys are to monitor smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary school pupils in years seven to 11, where the majority are aged 11 to 15.
	We have provided an example of data available from the Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England 2004 report, chapter 5 Where children get cigarettes which is shown in the table. This survey and chapter is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/34/32/04123432.pdf.
	
		Usual sources of cigarettes(61), by age, England 2004Current smokers -- Percentage
		
			  Age 1112 years 13 years 14 years 15 years Total 
		
		
			 Bought from any shop 28 53 63 78 66 
			 Bought from supermarket 5 13 16 30 21 
			 Bought from newsagent/tobacconist/sweet shop 24 45 54 70 58 
			 Bought from garage shop 9 15 25 38 29 
			 Bought from other type of shop 3 9 9 16 12 
			   
			 Bought from street markets 2 8 5 4 5 
			 Bought from machine 14 14 17 22 19 
			 Bought through the internet   0  0 
			   
			 Bought from other people 40 38 41 33 37 
			 Bought from friends/relatives 28 29 30 25 27 
			 Bought from someone else 24 22 22 15 19 
			   
			 Given by other people 62 67 67 61 63 
			 Given by friends 51 64 61 56 58 
			 Given by brother/sister 18 17 12 11 13 
			 Given by father/mother 3 2 7 9 7 
			   
			 Found or taken 11 9 7 4 6 
			 Other 15 5 6 6 7 
			   
			 Bases 123 214 388 628 1,353 
		
	
	(61)Percentages total more than 100 because pupils could give more than one answer.
	Note:
	The survey from which the results are taken are from secondary school pupils in years 7 to 11. The majority of pupils questioned are therefore aged between 11 and 15.
	Source:
	Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England 2004. Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Social Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) the recent report by the Association of Directors of Social Services on learning disabilities services and (b) the likely impact of its recommendations on social care in North Yorkshire.

Liam Byrne: The Department welcomes this report as a useful piece of work, particularly in its emphasis on the importance of maintaining support for people with learning disabilities to lead their lives as independently as possible.
	It is for North Yorkshire to consider the contents of the report in relation to their local service provision.

Sorafenib

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely timescale for introducing Sorafenib following successful clinical trials.

Jane Kennedy: A press statement issued by the applicant pharmaceutical company indicates that an application for a marketing authorisation for Sorafenib has been submitted to the European medicines agency (EMEA) in September 2005 for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell cancer. As with all medicinal products, before Sorafenib is granted a marketing authorisation and becomes available in the United Kingdom it must be fully evaluated in relation to the appropriate standards required in the relevant European rules and regulations on medicinal products. Data submitted in support of the application will need to demonstrate that the safety, quality and efficacy of the product are satisfactory for its intended use. Under European procedures, it takes up to 210 days for an opinion on licensing to be given by the scientific committee of the EMEA, the Committee for human medicinal products, excluding time taken by the company to provide further information or data to support any questions which may arise during the assessment process. Should the assessment consider that the quality, safety and efficacy are satisfactory and a positive opinion be given, the European Commission will consider the opinion and decide upon granting a marketing authorisation, valid across the community.

Waiting Lists/Times

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 October 2005, Official Report, column 2843W, on waiting times, whether the Department has agreed local delivery plans with every strategic health authority; where the Department is piloting data collections to support the 18-week waiting time target; where these pilots are taking place; whether she has taken a decision on whether data drawn from the pilots will be published; and when she intends to begin monitoring waiting times across England for the purpose of measuring the 18-week waiting time target.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1579W.
	Measurement of the total patient pathway, from referral to treatment, will be in place in advance of 2008 to help support delivery of 18 weeks. In the meantime, all strategic health authorities (SHAs) have developed plans, based upon the three stages of treatment, outpatients, diagnostics and inpatients, which have been signed off by the Department.
	Primary care trusts and SHAs have recently been asked to refresh their plans for cutting long waits for outpatients, diagnostics and inpatients, in order to reflect their latest thinking on achievement of the 18-week target. We plan to monitor referral-to-treatment times across England from early 2007.

Winter Deaths

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Department has made of the strength of the correlation between excess winter deaths and the average outdoor temperature.

Liam Byrne: It is well known that there is a linear relationship of temperature and mortality, 1.4 per cent. increase in mortality for every one degree centigrade fall in temperature from 18 degrees centigrade. This means that all winter days, not just the coldest, create some excess mortality.
	This message is spelt out in the materials for the Keep Warm Keep Well campaign, a campaign run every winter for the last 17 winters in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Age Concern, Help the Aged, National Energy Action, and WRVS.
	Source:
	The Eurowinter group. Lancet, 1997, May 10; 349 (9062): 13416.

Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for Yorkshire Wolds and Coast primary care trust's budget deficit.

Liam Byrne: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for managing the financial position for their local health communities, which includes assessing the reasons for organisations incurring deficits. SHAs are charged with ensuring that every organisation achieves financial balance.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary Questions

Peter Law: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment he has made of the merits of arranging for 'will write answers' to hon. Members to be published in full in an annex to the Official Report.

Geoff Hoon: Improvements to the way Government Departments handle replies to parliamentary questions, to reduce the number and increase the accessibility of 'I will write' replies, were announced by written ministerial statement on 21 July 2004.
	I have recently conducted a review of how these new arrangements have been working, in response to a report recommendation from the Public Administration Select Committee. I am content that the arrangements at the time of Prorogation are working well.
	I have sent a memorandum to the Committee today.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Wildlife Crime

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the resources available to police officers for tackling wildlife crime.

Fiona Mactaggart: All Police forces have a policy for dealing with wildlife crime and the chief constable and police authority are responsible for allocating resources to deliver that policy. The enforcement capability of officers on the ground is supported by the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime; a multi-agency body comprising representatives of all the organisations involved in wildlife law enforcement in the UK. In addition, the National Criminal Intelligence Service houses the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit, which supports all forces.

Police

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the likely costs of police force amalgamation.

Charles Clarke: Further to a previous reply, we are currently analysing the proposals put forward to ensure that we understand fully the real costs of change and the future benefits. Until that analysis is complete, I am not prepared to comment further on the likely costs.

Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the Association of Police Authorities about the merger of police forces.

Hazel Blears: The Home Secretary has received a number of representations from the APA both in writing and in person on the review of police force structures. The issues raised by the APA are important and will continue to be considered carefully in the light of the proposals we have received from police forces and authorities and as we move into the implementation phase of the review. The APA has been and will continue to be fully involved in our deliberations.

Police

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that local communities are consulted about police force amalgamations.

Charles Clarke: As part of developing options for change forces and authorities were asked to consult with all relevant local stakeholders including local communities so as to ensure their views were taken into consideration. There will also be further consultation at a national and local level as the final proposals for change in each region become clear.

Police

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of policing per head of population in Surrey in (a) 199798 and (b) 200506, broken down by (i) council tax, (ii) police grant, (iii) national business rates, (iv) revenue support grant and (v) other funding sources.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the table. The figures are not directly comparable because in April 2000 the area covered by the Surrey police authority was increased as a result of a boundary change with the Metropolitan Police area.
	We do not distribute grant to police authorities purely on the basis of population. The police funding formula uses a range of socio-demographic data to reflect reasonably the relative needs of each authority. Grant allocations take into account the relative resources of each authority. They are also adjusted to limit year-on-year variations.
	
		Cost of policing per head of population in Surrey
		
			  
			   199798 200506 
		
		
			 (i) Council tax per head of population 19.51 69.33 
			 (ii) Home Office police grant per head of population 57.80 54.29 
			 (iii) National non domestic rates per head of population 19.72 16.25 
			 (iv) Revenue support grant per head of population 20.01 15.39 
			 (v) Other funding sources per head of population(62) 3.09 12.28 
		
	
	(62) Approximately half the 'other' funding for 200506 is from Home Office specific grants.
	Source:
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Figures of 'other' income provided by Surrey police.

Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the tendering process which led to the drug testing equipment being supplied to the police by Cozart Bioscience Ltd. was.

Paul Goggins: The Department tendered for the provision of drug testing equipment to the police by issuing an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in 2003. Interested companies were short-listed against the criteria specified in the OJEU advertisement, with the contract being awarded to Cozart Bioscience Ltd.

Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the drug testing equipment supplied to the police by Cozart Bioscience Ltd.

Paul Goggins: The Cozart drug testing equipment was assessed against the criteria specified in the procurement notice advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in 2003. In accordance with contractual arrangements, the Home Office monitors the performance of the equipment provided by Cozart Bioscience Ltd.

Police

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been employed in Rayleigh, Essex, in each year since 2002.

Hazel Blears: Rayleigh is a basic command unit (BCU) within Essex. The deployment of police officers to the Rayleigh BCU is a matter for the chief constable of Essex.
	In 2002, there were 154 police officers in Rayleigh. In 2003 there were 148 officers, 165 in 2004 and 163 in 2005.
	The numbers of police officers are based on full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures are as at 31 March.

Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the police are from ethnic minorities.

Hazel Blears: As at 31 March 2005, 3.5 per cent. of the total number of police officers, full-time equivalent, in England and Wales were from an ethnic minority background.

Police

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there have been in (a) Ruislip-Northwood constituency and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Data on police officers are not collected centrally at constituency level. Data for the number of police officers in the London borough of Hillingdon is provided in the following table. Data are available only from 200001 onwards.
	
		Number of police officers in Hillingdon (full-time equivalent)200105
		
			 As at 31 March Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 2001 358 
			 2002 408 
			 2003 458 
			 2004 484 
			 2005 498

Police

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers have been introduced in (a) Ruislip-Northwood constituency and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon; and what assessment he has made of their impact on (i) crime and (ii) antisocial behaviour.

Hazel Blears: As at 30 June 2005, there were 56 community support officers (CSOs) assigned to Hillingdon. Data on CSOs is not available for constituencies. The allocation of CSOs to individual Borough Operational Command Units is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
	Initial findings from the Home Office evaluation on CSOs, published on the Home Office website (http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/community-policing/) on 28 October 2005 confirm that CSOs are providing a valuable service to the police and public alike in terms of visibility and a reassurance presence in the community. They are being used to tackle low level crime and antisocial behaviour as well as youth disorder and alcohol-related issues. I have no information specifically about the impact of CSOs in Hillingdon.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list police buildings which operate under private finance initiative contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The following list shows all grant supported police private finance initiatives (PFI) projects which are in operation or under construction. Information is not held on any PFI projects developed without grant support.
	
		
			 Police Force PFI Project 
		
		
			 Cleveland Rationalised Custody 
			 Kent Divisional HQMedway 
			 Cheshire Centralised Custody Suites 
			 GMP Property ReviewDivisional/Sub Divisional HQ and Police Stations 
			 Cleveland/Durham Firearms Facility 
			 Cumbria Workington Police Station 
			 Derbyshire Ilkeston Police Station 
			 Derbyshire Divisional HQ and City Police Station 
			 Dorset Divisional HQ and 3 New Police Stations 
			 Dyfed Powys Ammanford Police Station 
			 Gloucestershire Force HQ 
			 Gwent Ystrad Mynach Police Station 
			 N Wales Divisional HQ and Major Incident Unit 
			 Norfolk HQ, Operations and Communications Centre 
			 Northumbria Mounted Facilities 
			 Notts Traffic Wing and Vehicles Services 
			 Sussex Centralised Custody Suites 
			 TVP Abingdon Area Divisional HQ 
			 Wiltshire Divisional HQ and Satellite Facilities 
			 Wiltshire Air Support

Police

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process Police Community Volunteer applications in (a) the East Midlands and (b) England was in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by constabulary.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally.

Police

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many records on the Police National DNA database fall within the voluntary category.

Andy Burnham: As at 10 January 2006, there were 15,316 voluntary records on the National DNA Database.

Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to ensure that the extra costs of police forces with relatively large budgets which are merged with police forces with smaller budgets will not be met by council tax payers; what transitional financial arrangements he proposes to introduce; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Government will be considering grant arrangements for police authorities in the light of changes to police authority boundaries and in the way the new larger authorities might operate.
	My Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Welsh Assembly Government, Her Majesty's Treasury and police representative bodies are currently participating in examining the financial aspects of reorganisation, including the impact of restructuring on budgets, grant and council tax.

Police

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has had discussions with police authorities on the suspension of further appointments to high level vacancies in police forces, subject to their possible restructuring.

Hazel Blears: I have had no specific discussions with police authorities on this matter. However, in his capacity as chair of the Senior Appointments Panel Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC), recently wrote to police authorities addressing the implications of HMIC's Closing the Gap report on the current structure of policing.
	Reflecting the views of the Senior Appointments Panel, the letter advised police authorities that, except where specific approval had already been granted, the common sense approach would be not to proceed with existing or future plans to recruit new chief constables during the restructuring process. Where police authorities wished to recruit deputy or assistant chief constables, the panel would exercise its professional judgement on a case by case basis and decide whether or not there was merit in filling the post at that point in time.
	A copy of this letter has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Police

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police hours were worked (a) in total and (b) per police officer in post (i) in the period immediately before the implementation of the European Working Time Directive on policing and (ii) in the period following that date.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Police

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each police authority area in England and Wales in each of the last 20 years, grouped according to region and listed in descending order according to the percentage change over that period.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Police force March 1985 March 1986 March 1987 March 1988 March 1989 March 1990 March 1991 March 1992 
		
		
			 East Midlands 
			 Leicestershire 1,695 1,737 1,712 1,735 1,745 1,769 1,818 1,845 
			 Northamptonshire 1,015 1,025 1,047 1,093 1,095 1,126 1,139 1,158 
			 Derbyshire 1,752 1,753 1,777 1,790 1,784 1,795 1,741 1,706 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,150 2,210 2,226 2,252 2,298 2,316 2,336 2,331 
			 Lincolnshire 1,146 1,139 1,173 1,168 1,194 1,188 1,209 1,196 
			  
			 Eastern 
			 Hertfordshire(63) 1,562 1,565 1,579 1,603 1,638 1,657 1,666 1,695 
			 Norfolk 1,248 1,263 1,312 1,308 1,340 1,363 1,405 1,414 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,137 1,136 1,142 1,171 1,187 1,193 1,201 1,250 
			 Bedfordshire 990 985 984 999 1,025 1,050 1,105 1,093 
			 Essex(63) 2,650 2,666 2,718 2,728 2,746 2,822 2,889 2,898 
			 Suffolk 1,129 1,121 1,166 1,188 1,181 1,194 1,209 1,218 
			  
			 London 
			 Metropolitan(63) 26,751 26,813 26,890 27,688 28,058 28,362 28,230 28,154 
			 London, City of 789 774 771 787 801 799 813 808 
			  
			 North East 
			 Durham 1,279 1,293 1,307 1,329 1,351 1,375 1,368 1,389 
			 Northumbria 3,295 3,357 3,402 3,467 3,508 3,529 3,541 3,464 
			 Cleveland 1,446 1,470 1,462 1,466 1,470 1,467 1,489 1,477 
			  
			 North West 
			 Cheshire 1,799 1,806 1,830 1,837 1,879 1,870 1,895 1,874 
			 Greater Manchester 6,736 6,768 6,780 6,965 6,935 6,992 7,014 7,061 
			 Lancashire 3,029 3,021 3,134 3,139 3,177 3,201 3,212 3,198 
			 Cumbria 1,092 1,127 1,118 1,141 1,135 1,166 1,184 1,179 
			 Merseyside 4,588 4,543 4,598 4,647 4,689 4,714 4,689 4,621 
			  
			 South East 
			 Kent 2,833 2,870 2,879 2,908 2,985 2,984 3,005 3,074 
			 Thames Valley 3,259 3,297 3,421 3,490 3,600 3,659 3,714 3,772 
			 Hampshire 3,057 3,062 3,098 3,103 3,167 3,154 3,179 3,211 
			 Surrey(63) 1,590 1,614 1,609 1,649 1,636 1,645 1,657 1,706 
			 Sussex 2,803 2,790 2,830 2,894 2,946 2,949 2,969 2,984 
			  
			 South West 
			 Dorset 1,160 1,199 1,202 1,234 1,251 1,269 1,281 1,289 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,722 2,739 2,774 2,787 2,849 2,852 2,873 2,898 
			 Wiltshire 1,034 1,043 1,044 1,095 1,101 1,130 1,165 1,221 
			 Gloucestershire 1,132 1,146 1,152 1,153 1,166 1,170 1,162 1,174 
			 Avon and Somerset 2,982 2,958 3,009 3,013 3,014 3,094 3,092 3,081 
			  
			 Wales 
			 Gwent(64) 964 978 973 979 996 1,008 999 1,009 
			 North Wales 1,271 1,253 1,286 1,300 1,327 1,337 1,349 1,347 
			 Dyfed Powys 910 930 932 917 931 935 935 947 
			 South Wales(64) 3,073 3,066 3,100 3,126 3,102 3,135 3,137 3,168 
			  
			 West Midlands 
			 West Mercia 1,919 1,939 1,929 1,946 1,948 1,991 2,026 2,034 
			 West Midlands 6,544 6,520 6,656 6,639 6,761 6,855 6,876 6,941 
			 Staffordshire 2,066 2,087 2,113 2,135 2,164 2,187 2,217 2,176 
			 Warwickshire 921 929 965 979 969 975 1,020 990 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Humberside 1,913 1,933 1,964 1,953 1,992 1,995 1,998 2,026 
			 North Yorkshire 1,332 1,361 1,353 1,372 1,370 1,379 1,387 1,398 
			 South Yorkshire 2,866 2,848 2,862 2,912 2,940 2,923 2,991 3,008 
			 West Yorkshire 4,991 5,145 5,142 5,184 5,278 5,260 5,268 5,087 
		
	
	
		
			 Police force March 1993 March 1994 March 1995 March 1996 March 1997 March 1998 March 1999 
		
		
			 East Midlands
			 Leicestershire 1,805 1,825 1,839 1,908 1,949 1,983 1,993 
			 Northamptonshire 1,199 1,170 1,156 1,153 1,177 1,169 1,137 
			 Derbyshire 1,830 1,820 1,797 1,763 1,791 1,772 1,759 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,327 2,328 2,319 2,318 2,323 2,323 2,225 
			 Lincolnshire 1,200 1,205 1,199 1,145 1,196 1,191 1,140 
			 
			 Eastern
			 Hertfordshire(63) 1,700 1,682 1,703 1,712 1,759 1,740 1,724 
			 Norfolk 1,440 1,447 1,395 1,401 1,432 1,430 1,381 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,265 1,263 1,261 1,238 1,302 1,291 1,274 
			 Bedfordshire 1,168 1,151 1,126 1,128 1,094 1,079 1,041 
			 Essex(63) 2,936 2,937 2,921 2,884 2,961 2,928 2,891 
			 Suffolk 1,241 1,208 1,191 1,138 1,180 1,186 1,190 
			 London
			 Metropolitan(63) 27,867 27,699 27,480 27,343 26,677 26,094 26,073 
			 London, City of 825 893 885 869 859 825 778 
			 
			 North East
			 Durham 1,381 1,383 1,353 1,401 1,461 1,515 1,568 
			 Northumbria 3,563 3,598 3,606 3,668 3,677 3,769 3,840 
			 Cleveland 1,478 1,429 1,438 1,420 1,459 1,483 1,416 
			 
			 North West
			 Cheshire 1,908 1,902 1,932 1,998 2,046 2,042 2,071 
			 Greater Manchester 7,060 6,967 7,037 6,938 6,922 6,949 6,810 
			 Lancashire 3,207 3,170 3,212 3,171 3,247 3,257 3,245 
			 Cumbria 1,196 1,174 1,167 1,115 1,144 1,164 1,126 
			 Merseyside 4,669 4,693 4,659 4,411 4,230 4,216 4,211 
			 
			 South East
			 Kent 3,146 3,145 3,117 3,120 3,260 3,251 3,201 
			 Thames Valley 3,840 3,908 3,854 3,674 3,695 3,776 3,748 
			 Hampshire 3,275 3,270 3,256 3,347 3,452 3,490 3,473j 
			 Surrey(63) 1,693 1,669 1,676 1,644 1,620 1,608 1,662 
			 Sussex 3,008 3,009 2,931 3,074 3,085 2,996 2,847 
			 
			 South West
			 Dorset 1,302 1,297 1,288 1,263 1,284 1,310 1,279 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,910 2,914 2,877 2,899 2,865 2,962 2,887 
			 Wiltshire 1,265 1,264 1,261 1,218 1,154 1,156 1,151 
			 Gloucestershire 1,149 1,159 1,163 1,133 1,133 1,104 1,104 
			 Avon and Somerset 3,068 3,033 3,000 2,981 2,989 2,976 2,999 
			 
			 Wales
			 Gwent(64) 1,004 993 997 1,044 1,243 1,233 1,247 
			 North Wales 1,360 1,352 1,366 1,378 1,369 1,396 1,391 
			 Dyfed Powys 967 965 976 991 1,005 1,002 1,026 
			 South Wales(64) 3,176 3,131 3,014 3,027 2,976 2,986 2,981 
			 
			 West Midlands
			 West Mercia 2,054 2,059 2,046 2,017 2,040 2,010 2,025 
			 West Midlands 6,953 7,014 7,019 7,145 7,113 7,156 7,321 
			 Staffordshire 2,179 2,208 2,231 2,209 2,211 2,292 2,238 
			 Warwickshire 1,020 1,046 1,013 979 926 924 908 
			 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber
			 Humberside 2,032 2,039 2,029 2,041 2,045 2,021 1,974 
			 North Yorkshire 1,393 1,318 1,300 1,324 1,338 1,367 1,337 
			 South Yorkshire 3,032 3,023 3,040 3,073 3,159 3,182 3,168 
			 West Yorkshire 5,037 5,046 5,050 5,142 5,209 5,155 4,982 
		
	
	
		
			 Police force March 2000 March 2001 March 2002 March 2003 March 2004 March 2005 Percentage change 
		
		
			 East Midlands
			 Leicestershire 1,993 2,033 2,100 2,114 2,277 2,283 35 
			 Northamptonshire 1,117 1,157 1,214 1,210 1,239 1,267 25 
			 Derbyshire 1,777 1,823 1,848 2,003 2,070 2,070 18 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,204 2,212 2,330 2,411 2,484 2,502 16 
			 Lincolnshire 1,115 1,202 1,198 1,221 1,228 1,221 7 
			 
			 Eastern
			 Hertfordshire(63) 1,767 1,922 1,825 1,957 2,086 2,104 35 
			 Norfolk 1,381 1,420 1,468 1,499 1,510 1,544 24 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,237 1,296 1,362 1,384 1,400 1,402 23 
			 Bedfordshire 1,028 1,036 1,069 1,106 1,181 1,215 23 
			 Essex(63) 2,806 2,887 2,946 2,989 3,098 3,190 20 
			 Suffolk 1,145 1,133 1,203 1,253 1,304 1,313 16 
			 
			 London
			 Metropolitan(63) 25,485 24,878 26,223 27,984 29,735 30,710 15 
			 London, City of 732 703 764 808 853 876 11 
			 
			 North East
			 Durham 1,558 1,595 1,614 1,651 1,685 1,718 34 
			 Northumbria 3,788 3,857 3,929 3,943 4,040 4,048 23 
			 Cleveland 1,404 1,407 1,461 1,582 1,687 1,676 16 
			 
			 North West
			 Cheshire 2,011 2,002 2,059 2,119 2,179 2,186 22 
			 Greater Manchester 6,795 6,909 7,217 7,343 8,042 8,041 19 
			 Lancashire 3,179 3,255 3,304 3,339 3,550 3,551 17 
			 Cumbria 1,084 1,048 1,100 1,140 1,222 1,232 13 
			 Merseyside 4,085 4,081 4,125 4,099 4,122 4,317 -6 
			 
			 South East
			 Kent 3,204 3,319 3,355 3,487 3,576 3,586 27 
			 Thames Valley 3,740 3,703 3,762 3,833 4,034 4,114 26 
			 Hampshire 3,419 3,435 3,480 3,668 3,706 3,725 22 
			 Surrey(63) 1,785 2,066 1,992 1,906 1,913 1,915 20 
			 Sussex 2,822 2,855 2,893 2,989 3,039 3,044 9 
			 
			 South West
			 Dorset 1,306 1,354 1,381 1,416 1,433 1,450 25 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,841 2,934 3,053 3,202 3,298 3,369 24 
			 Wiltshire 1,118 1,120 1,157 1,158 1,217 1,222 18 
			 Gloucestershire 1,114 1,173 1,183 1,227 1,284 1,291 14 
			 Avon and Somerset 2,934 2,960 3,096 3,149 3,401 3,384 13 
			 
			 Wales
			 Gwent(64) 1,264 1,274 1,333 1,341 1,372 1,438 49 
			 North Wales 1,403 1,444 1,506 1,539 1,603 1,652 30 
			 Dyfed Powys 1,040 1,055 1,132 1,149 1,167 1,174 29 
			 South Wales(64) 2,926 3,100 3,222 3,239 3,279 3,281 7 
			 
			 West Midlands
			 West Mercia 1,887 1,951 2,018 2,256 2,355 2,367 23 
			 West Midlands 7,194 7,423 7,681 7,751 7,887 8,056 23 
			 Staffordshire 2,170 2,129 2,133 2,202 2,266 2,280 10 
			 Warwickshire 900 926 969 997 1,008 1,011 10 
			 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber
			 Humberside 1,932 1,917 2,058 2,105 2,213 2,230 17 
			 North Yorkshire 1,283 1,305 1,417 1,444 1,529 1,543 16 
			 South Yorkshire 3,163 3,197 3,199 3,183 3,278 3,265 14 
			 West Yorkshire 4,822 4,815 4,889 5,029 5,275 5,631 13 
		
	
	(63) Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 tranferred resources from the Metropolitan Police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey forces.
	(64) Boundary changes on 1 April 1996 moved resources for the policing of the Rhymney Valley from South Wales Police to Gwent Police.

Police

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff to the police there are in (i) each of the English regions and (ii) Wales.

Hazel Blears: The numbers of (a) police officers and (b) police staff in each of the English and Welsh regions are provided in the following table.
	
		Police officer and police staff strength by English Government office regions and Wales (full-time equivalents) as at 31 March 2005
		
			 English Government office regions and Wales Police officers Police officers less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave(66) Police staff Police staff less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave(66) 
		
		
			 North East 7,515 7,442 2,976 2,948 
			 Cleveland 1,689 1,676 748 742 
			 Durham 1,738 1,718 736 735 
			 Northumbria 4,088 4,048 1,491 1,470 
			  
			 North West 19,510 19,327 9,012 8,892 
			 Cheshire 2,207 2,186 1,137 1,125 
			 Cumbria 1,260 1,232 730 718 
			 Greater Manchester 8,119 8,041 3,303 3,248 
			 Lancashire 3,586 3,551 1,715 1,686 
			 Merseyside 4,339 4,317 2,126 2,114 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 12,790 12,669 6,706 6,650 
			 Humberside 2,252 2,230 1,034 1,026 
			 North Yorkshire 1,560 1,543 928 928 
			 South Yorkshire 3,307 3,265 1,729 1,698 
			 West Yorkshire 5,671 5,631 3,016 2,998 
			  
			 East Midlands 9,437 9,343 5,165 5,066 
			 Derbyshire 2,082 2,070 1,165 1,129 
			 Leicestershire 2,311 2,283 1,033 1,009 
			 Lincolnshire 1,234 1,221 678 671 
			 Northamptonshire 1,289 1,267 973 958 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,522 2,502 1,318 1,299 
			  
			 West Midlands 13,854 13,714 6,549 6,454 
			 Staffordshire 2,309 2,280 1,325 1,313 
			 Warwickshire 1,012 1,011 590 587 
			 West Mercia 2,380 2,367 1,492 1,471 
			 West Midlands 8,154 8,056 3,143 3,083 
			  
			 Eastern 10,902 10,767 6,723 6,649 
			 Bedfordshire 1,232 1,215 713 706 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,418 1,402 832 821 
			 Essex 3,230 3,190 1,968 1,955 
			 Hertfordshire 2,145 2,104 1,414 1,382 
			 Norfolk 1,554 1,544 984 982 
			 Suffolk 1,323 1,313 813 803 
			  
			 London 31,954 31,586 13,859 13,425 
			 London, City of 881 876 298 298 
			 Metropolitan Police 31,073 30,710 13,561 13,127 
			  
			 South East 16,676 16,384 10,226 10,110 
			 Hampshire 3,803 3,725 1,965 1,944 
			 Kent 3,630 3,586 2,228 2,198 
			 Surrey 1,959 1,915 1,472 1,461 
			 Sussex 3,094 3,044 1,950 1,935 
			 Thames Valley 4,189 4,114 2,611 2,573 
			  
			 South West 10,808 10,717 6,394 6,321 
			 Avon and Somerset 3,398 3,384 2,005 1,984 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,399 3,369 2,034 2,007 
			 Dorset 1,475 1,450 881 871 
			 Gloucestershire 1,308 1,291 663 648 
			 Wiltshire 1,228 1,222 811 811 
			  
			 Wales 7,613 7,545 3,597 3,519 
			 Dyfed Powys 1,183 1,174 531 525 
			 Gwent 1,438 1,438 688 688 
			 North Wales 1,676 1,652 867 841 
			 South Wales 3,316 3,281 1,510 1,465 
			  
			 Total of all 43 forces 141,060 139,495 71,207 70,032 
			  
			 National Crime Squad (NCS) 1,059 1,059 674 674 
			 National Crime Intelligence Squad (NCIS) 121 121 121 121 
			 Central Service Secondments 555 555   
			  
			 Total strength 142,795 141,230 72,002 70,827 
		
	
	(65) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.
	(66) Comparable with previously published figures.

Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a conviction for the (a) use of and (b) possession of cocaine while a teenager continues to disqualify a person from successfully applying to become a police officer in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office provides guidance to police forces on vetting applicants who have a criminal record but it is for the police force concerned to make decisions on individual cases.
	Guidance is provided in HOC 54/2003. Forces are advised that convictions which will lead to rejection unless there are exceptionally compelling circumstances include serious involvement in drugs including possession of a Class A drug or more than one Class B drug and/or supplying drugs of any kind.
	Each case is treated on its own merits, and if the offence is deemed sufficiently serious, a person will be rejected irrespective of age at the time of offending.
	Generally, a juvenile conviction within the last five years for any recordable offence will lead to rejection.
	However, any offence committed as an adult or a juvenile which results in a prison sentence (including custodial, suspended or deferred sentence and sentences served at a young offenders' institution or community home) will lead to rejection unless there are exceptionally compelling circumstances.

Police

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time has been in each of the last five years between police recruits applying to and starting training in the Thames Valley Police Force, broken down by (a) sex and (b) ethnic origin.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally.
	This is an operational matter for the chief constable and the question should be directed to Thames Valley police.

Police

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on charging the organisers for policing of events which do not fall within his definition of normal policing which (a) are and (b) are not organised with the intention of making a profit; what his definition is of normal policing for this purpose; and what events which do not constitute normal policing are taken into account in determining his Department's financial support for police forces.

Hazel Blears: Section 25 of the Police Act 1996 enables Chief Officers of Police to provide special police services upon request and in return for payment at a rate set by the police authority. Home Office guidance is that where the police charge for special services arrangements should be made for full recovery of costs, but authorities may decide to recover a lesser amount.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers has produced guidance to encourage a consistent and transparent approach to the calculation of policing costs.
	The provision of special police services is not taken into account in determining the provision of grant for police forces.
	Where a force has to meet an exceptional level of expenditure that affects its financial position to the extent that normal operational policing is at risk, the Authority can make a special grant request to the Home Secretary. In such circumstances the approval of such a grant is entirely at the discretion of the Home Secretary.

Respect Action Plan

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution he expects neighbourhood watch schemes to make to the Government's Respect Action Plan.

Hazel Blears: I am pleased to be able to say that Neighbourhood Watch is thriving in Staffordshire. Neighbourhood Watch schemes have an important role to play in empowering local people to help reduce crime, tackle antisocial behaviour and reduce the fear of crime in communities throughout the country.
	We would like to see Watch groups engage more with people living in higher-crime areas, with young people and with members of minority ethnic communities and ensuring the accountability of police and local authorities to the community.

Parliament (Protests)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested for protesting within a mile of Parliament since 1 August 2005.

Paul Goggins: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has informed me that there have been 28 arrests for taking part in an unauthorised demonstration in the designated area since 1 August 2005.

Probation (Private Sector)

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to allow the private sector to bid for probation work.

Fiona Mactaggart: A consultation paper setting out the Government's proposals to restructure the probation service was published on 20 October 2005. We intend to publish a prospectus later this year which will outline our proposals for phasing contestability.

DNA Database

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the inclusion of people on the police DNA database who have not been charged or convicted.

Andy Burnham: The Government believe firmly that the measures taken to retain the samples of persons who have been arrested, albeit not charged or convicted, are proportionate and justified in the interests of preventing and detecting crime. It is a fact that the police arrest more persons than they charge but for those who may go on to commit a crime it is important that the police have this information available. Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear from having their DNA retained on the national DNA database.

DNA Database

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the national DNA database (a) he has received and (b) have been successful; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 6 December 2006
	The Home Office has received one request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning the national DMA database. In responding to the request; information was released setting out who was operating the national DMA database, additional funding budget, and the number of suspect offender profiles stored. It also set out the powers that the police were given under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to take, without consent, a non-intimate DMA sample. However, further information on how policy officials determined the guidelines on how a national DMA database would operate was withheld under Section 35(1 )(a) of the Freedom of information Act 2000 as it would stifle future debate and damage the quality of advice provided.

DNA Database

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many records were held on the Police DNA Database in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: Records on the National DNA Database represent DNA profiles taken from individuals and from crime scenes. Profiles taken from individuals are usually retained whereas those taken from crime scenes are usually deleted when the crime has been solved. The number of profiles is not the same as the number of individuals, because 10 per cent. of the profiles are estimated to be duplicates. The figures for each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of profiles relating to: 
			  individuals at end of financial year(67) crime scenes held at end of financial year(67) 
		
		
			 200001 1,186,000 103,000 
			 200102 1,695,000 142,000 
			 200203 2,102,000 193,000 
			 200304 2,516,000 228,000 
			 200405 3,086,000 240,000 
			 200506 (at 10 January 2006) 3,596,000 264,000 
		
	
	(67) nearest thousand, England, Wales and Scotland

DNA Database

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the Independent Police Complaints Commission regarding (a) the collection of DNA evidence from arrested persons and (b) the voluntary collection of DNA.

Hazel Blears: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to you directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.

DNA Database

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of people arrested in each year since 1995 had their DNA added to the National DNA Database.

Andy Burnham: The answer is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Year (financial) Number arrested for notifiable offences in England and Wales (nearest 100) Number of people added to database, England and Wales Proportion (percentage) 
		
		
			 199596 (68) 35,741 (69) 
			 199697 (68) 77,365 (69) 
			 199798 (68) 123,445 (69) 
			 199899 1,301,000 242,746 18.7 
			 19992000 1,277,900 205,279 16.1 
			 200001 1,264,200 419,900 33.2 
			 200102 1,271,900 509,423 40.1 
			 200203 1,313,100 439,667 33.5 
			 200304 1,330,400 389,973 29.3 
			 200405 1,353,800 469,005 34.6 
		
	
	(68) Not recorded
	(69) Not available

DNA Database

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people voluntarily gave DNA samples to be kept in the national police DNA database in each year since 2000.

Andy Burnham: No volunteer records were loaded on the National DNA Database before 200405, for technical reasons. In that year 12,095 volunteer records were loaded. Some of these were given during previous years, but there is no record of the date they were given, as opposed to the date they were loaded. Between 1 April 2005 and 10 January 2006, a further 3,221 volunteer profiles have been loaded.

DNA Database

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many entries on the National DNA Database were destroyed in each year since 1995.

Andy Burnham: The number of profiles relating to individuals deleted from the National DNA Database since 1995 is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2006 (to 10 January) 1,232 
			 2005 22,605 
			 2004 19,126 
			 2003 23,901 
			 2002 18,499 
			 2001 44,664 
			 2000 66,149 
			 1999 68,816 
			 1998 45,170 
			 1997 21,587 
			 1996 12,564 
			 1995 675

DNA Database

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from whom DNA was taken following arrest for inclusion in the National DNA Database were arrested for (a) summary, (b) indictable including either-way and (c) indictable only offences.

Andy Burnham: It is not possible to provide the information requested as statistical data are not kept in this form.
	When a person in police custody has a DNA sample taken, the sampling police officer completes a DNA form giving demographic details of the arrested person and details of the offence type by 12 broad offence categories. These are: Homicide, Rape, Robbery, Other violent crime, Other sex offences, Domestic Burglary, Other Burglary, Theft of Vehicle, theft from vehicle, Criminal damage, Drugs offences; and All other recordable offences. As the specific offence is not recorded, it is not possible to determine how many offences are summary, indictable or triable either way.

Cannabis

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to ensure teenagers are fully aware of the possible dangers associated with cannabis use.

Paul Goggins: The Government will continue to make it clear that all controlled drugs, including cannabis, are harmful and no one should take them. The FRANK campaign provides young people and their families with information about the risks from drugs and where to get further help. FRANK has distributed almost one million leaflets and promoted radio adverts about the risks associated with cannabis. In 2005 there were 300,000 visits to the cannabis section of the FRANK website.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in Wolverhampton since their introduction; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The number of ASBOs issued, as notified to the Home Office, from 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2005 (latest available), in the local government authority area of Wolverhampton city council, is 66.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour orders.

Hazel Blears: In 2002 we published a research paper entitled A review of anti-social behaviour orders (commonly referred to as the Campbell Review) which followed a commitment made during the passage through Parliament of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Antisocial behavioural orders (ASBOs) have now reached sufficient numbers to necessitate further research.
	The Home Office is conducting an evaluation of ASBOs, the findings of which will be available in spring 2006 and will provide information on the effectiveness of ASBOs in tackling anti-social behaviour within our neighbourhoods and communities. In addition, the Home Affairs Select Committee, in their report on antisocial behaviour published last year, recommended that research was necessary to establish the reasons for the inappropriate issuing of ASBOs or the issuing of ASBOs with inappropriate conditions. We are currently considering the best way to meet this recommendation.

People Trafficking (Sex Trade)

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to combat the trafficking of women from abroad to be forced to work in the sex trade.

Paul Goggins: The Government are committed to strong action against all forms of human trafficking. Our strategy includes comprehensive legislation, appropriate support for victims, co-operation with international partners, and enforcement action. An EU action plan on trafficking was adopted in December 2005.
	The Government have also just published a consultation document on an action plan for the UK.

Closing the Gap

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will summarise the material which was redacted in the published version of the HM Inspectorate Constabulary report Closing the Gap.

Hazel Blears: The preface to the public version of the Closing the Gap report addressed this issue and in particular stated that the redacted material in no way impacted either the substance, or the spirit of the original report and its conclusions. Furthermore please be assured that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) made every effort to keep the redactions to an absolute minimum.
	The only chapter that was affected by the decision to redact material was chapter five, the national assessment of police organisational fitness. 10 paragraphs were redacted from the section that presented HMIC's findings in relation to Counter-Terrorism and Domestic Extremism. These dealt with operational issues in relation to the command, control, deployment and resilience of existing resources in this critical, yet often covert area of policing. One sentence was redacted from the paragraphs that addressed Serious and Organised Crime, together with a composite map and the supporting narrative from the concluding section of the chapter, that identified risk in relation to specific operational issues, the release of which would be of interest to organised crime. It was HMIC's professional judgment that the publication of this material was not in the public interest.
	I have raised the issue of producing the requested summary with HMIC and it is their view that, given the relative brevity and sensitivity of the material in question, it would not be possible to do so without exposing the issues at hand. I am, of course, sighted on this material and I agree with this assessment.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many acceptable behaviour contracts have led to an application for (a) an antisocial behaviour order and (b) a possession order;
	(2)  how many acceptable behaviour contracts have been issued in the past two years; and what proportion has been breached;
	(3)  how many acceptable behaviour contracts have contained a statement that the continuation of unacceptable behaviour may lead to an application for (a) an antisocial behaviour order and (b) a possession order.

Hazel Blears: Data on the number of acceptable behaviour contracts are not collected by the Home Office as they are voluntary agreements and therefore unsuitable for central data collection.

Aliens (Removal)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of aliens in the country who are removable but are not required to sign on regularly at his Department or at police stations.

Tony McNulty: No government has ever been able to produce a precise estimate for the number of people who remain who are in the country illegally. A number will have entered unlawfully and go to considerable lengths to remain undetected, others leave without informing the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), and it is therefore impossible to quantify precisely how many people in this position are not required to report regularly.

Aliens (Removal)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the feasibility of removing all those individuals in the country who do not have leave to remain but who have not yet had removal action taken against them.

Tony McNulty: We have not carried out an assessment on whether it is feasible to remove all those individuals in the country who do not have leave to remain but who have not yet had removal action taken against them.
	No Government have ever been able to produce an accurate estimate for the number of people who remain in the country illegally. A number will have entered unlawfully and go to considerable lengths to remain undetected, others leave without informing the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), and it is therefore impossible to quantify accurately.

Appeals (Foreign Evidence)

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 427W, on appeals (foreign evidence), if he will take steps to include the Criminal Cases Review Commission as an investigative body that could raise a letter of request to another European jurisdiction under section 9(2) of the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003.

Fiona Mactaggart: We have agreed in principle that we will seek to amend the Crime (International Co-operation) Act to allow the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to issue letters of request for release of information to another European jurisdiction as soon as a suitable legislative vehicle becomes available.

Asylum/Immigration

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes to the asylum system his Department has introduced as a result of representations from the Scottish Executive.

Tony McNulty: Discussions are ongoing between the Home Office and Scottish Executive at ministerial and official level on the removal of failed asylum seeking families from Scotland and ways of promoting legal migration routes. Any improvements to the asylum system identified through these discussions will be implemented on a UK wide basis.

Asylum/Immigration

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers in Leeds, North West have qualified for support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: Since January 2005 we have supported 2,151 people under section four in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. The number in receipt of support as at 20 December is 1,105.

Asylum/Immigration

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications of the political situation in Iran for his policy of repatriation of Iranian asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: We continue to monitor closely the political and human rights situation in Iran through key governmental, non-governmental and other human rights organisations. The asylum determination process assesses the protection needs of individual claimants and where the political situation in Iran impacts directly on the circumstances of an individual claimant then it is duly considered as part of that individual's claim.
	All Iranian asylum and human rights applications are considered by the Home Office on their individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Refugee status or other forms of leave are granted in appropriate cases. We enforce the return of an individual only where we are satisfied that the person concerned will not be at risk and has been unsuccessful in any appeals against the decision in their particular case.

Asylum/Immigration

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removals to the Democratic Republic of the Congo have occurred in each of the last 24 months.

Tony McNulty: Removals to the Democratic Republic of Congo are shown in the following table. Asylum removals are shown to September 2005 and non-asylum removals to December 2004. Asylum removals for the fourth quarter 2005 will be published in February 2006. Non-asylum removals for 2005 will be published in November 2006.
	Information on the destination of asylum removals has been recorded since the start of 2004 and is routinely given out to answer queries. This is published on the Home Office Research and Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		Removals and voluntary departures(70)to the Democratic Republic of Congo January 2004 to September 20052, 3
		
			  2004 2004 2005 2005(73) 
			  Asylum5, 6 Non-asylum(76) Asylum5, 6 Non-asylum(76) 
		
		
			 January  * 5 n/a 
			 February *  5 n/a 
			 March *  * n/a 
			 April 5  * n/a 
			 May * * 5 n/a 
			 June  *  n/a 
			 July *  * n/a 
			 August  5 5 n/a 
			 September * 5 5 n/a 
			 October * * n/a n/a 
			 November 5 5 n/a n/a 
			 December * * n/a n/a 
			 Total 15 20 (77)25 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Data not available.
	(70) Includes persons departing 'Voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them.
	(71) Figures rounded to the nearest five, with * = 1 or 2 and  = 0, may not sum due to rounding.
	(72) Provisional figures.
	(73) Non-asylum data for 2005 will be published in the Control of Immigration United Kingdom 2005 in November 2006.
	(74) Includes persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.
	(75) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, excluding dependants.
	(76) Includes a small number of people leaving under the Assisted Voluntary Return for Irregular Migrants Programme run by the International Organisation for Migration.
	(77) Total January to September 2005.

Asylum/Immigration

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring of UK removals of failed asylum seekers to the Democratic Republic of Congo is undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: As with returns to all countries, the Home Office does not routinely monitor the treatment of individual Congolese nationals once removed from the UK. We would not remove them if we considered that they were likely to suffer persecution on their return. If specific allegations are made that any returnee has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK, then these are followed up through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the British Embassy in Kinshasa as a matter of urgency.
	Embassy staff are regularly in contact with a wide range of domestic and international sources in Kinshasa including local lawyers, press and human rights activists, Ministers from the Transitional National Government and other western embassies.

Asylum/Immigration

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Coventry, South are (a) registered as asylum seekers and (b) registered migrants awaiting a decision on the granting right to remain.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by local authority. The most recent publication covering the third quarter of 2005, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.
	Statistics on the location of persons awaiting a decision on their application for leave to remain in the UK is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by the examination of individual case records

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what support is provided to Zimbabweans who have been refused asylum;
	(2)  what representations he has received regarding the situation of Zimbabweans living in the UK who have been refused asylum.

Tony McNulty: We have received representations from the public and from Members of both Houses regarding the situation of Zimbabweans who have been refused asylum. Most have been concerned primarily with the issue of enforced return of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, with a number of these proposing that failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers be allowed to work in the UK until it is safe for them to return to Zimbabwe. We have also received representations from UK voluntary sector organisations about support for failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers under section four of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
	As I explained in my statement on 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 134WS, the recent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal determination did not find that Zimbabwe generally was unsafe for failed asylum seekers to return to or that voluntary returnees are at risk, only that the method by which we were at that time enforcing returns put enforced returnees at risk. As a consequence, we will not enforce the return of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe until we have addressed the concerns of the tribunal. In the meantime, voluntary returns to Zimbabwe are possible and are continuing. We therefore expect failed asylum seekers to return voluntarily to Zimbabwe and will assist them in doing so through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
	Asylum seekers from Zimbabwe who have been refused asylum can apply for support under section four of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Support is available under this provision to unsuccessful asylum seekers who are destitute and who satisfy one or more of a number of conditions, for example that the person is taking all reasonable steps to leave the UK, or to place himself in a position in which they are able to leave the UK.

Asylum/Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his current estimate is of the number of failed asylum seekers living in the UK.

Tony McNulty: Information on the total number of asylum seekers currently in the UK, including failed asylum seekers, is not available.
	As in other countries, the number of unauthorised or illegal migrantsincluding failed asylum seekersin the UK is unknown. The Migration Research Unit (MRU) report published last year reviewed the methods used in other countries and assessed their viability for use in the UK. That report suggested that a method which could be applied in the UK is the residual method used in the United States. The new report details how that method has been applied in the UK.
	It must be emphasised that, while this method is one that can be used with data available for the UK, over-reliance must not be placed on this result in the absence of the means to produce other estimates using different methods. The report can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made on introducing faster non-detained processes for new asylum claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: As mentioned in the immigration and nationality directorate (IND) five year strategy, Controlling our borders: making migration work for Britain [Cm 6472] published in February 2005, we have been testing a non- detained, tightly-managed approach in north-west England, where applicants are interviewed and receive decisions on their claims quickly and are closely managed either to removal or leave to remain in the UK.
	This has been in place since December 2004 and is part of the new asylum model (NAM) which is designed to introduce:
	faster tightly-managed processes for all new asylum claimants, including those not detained;
	close contact management for all non-detained claimants with access to support dependent on compliance; and
	a specialist case owner responsible for managing each claimant from the start to either integration or removal.
	Two segments of the new asylum model, dealing with potentially non- suspensive appeals cases and with late and opportunistic claims having low barriers to removal, became operational in June 2005 via complete case management teams based at Liverpool and Croydon.
	Under this system, claimants presenting at the asylum screening units at Liverpool and Croydon who do not go into the detained fast track are judged against objective criteria (which have been shared with external stakeholders) as to whether their claims are late and opportunistic. If they are, or, based on their country of origin, their claims are potentially non-suspensive appeal cases and they require national asylum seeker support (NASS) accommodation, they are moved to Liverpool. Non- detained, non-NASS accommodated claimants in either segment are managed by a Croydon-based team using reporting centres as close as possible to where they are living.
	This is the first phase of the proposed implementation which we expect to see all new asylum cases from the end of this year dealt with as part of the new asylum model.
	For the next phase we are planning to introduce case management teams in West Midlands and Leeds to manage the asylum applicants in those regions. These are expected to be in operational form in May of this year. Decisions will be made later about locations of other teams.

Asylum/Immigration

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications for leave to remain included correspondence from hon. Members in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Information about the percentage of leave to remain applications received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate which included correspondence from hon. Members is not available. It could be obtained only by examination of individual case files at a disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK who are unable to (a) work and (b) claim benefit.

Tony McNulty: All failed asylum seekers who have no leave to remain in the UK do not have the right to work and are expected to leave the country. Support under section four of the 1999 Act is available for those unsuccessful asylum seekers unable to leave the country immediately who are co-operating with the process for return. As at the end of September 2005 there were 7,630 applicants, excluding dependants, in receipt of section four support.
	However, as in other countries, the number of unauthorised or illegal migrantsincluding failed asylum seekersin the UK is unknown. The Home Office published on 30 June, the outcome of the assessment of the applicability to the UK of the methods used by researchers and government agencies in other countries to estimate the size of the illegal population. The methods had been identified in the report by the Migration Research Unit (MRU) of University College London on Sizing the Illegally Resident Population in the UK.
	A copy of the Research Development and Statistics (RDS) On-line report 29/05Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html
	The MRU report published last year reviewed the methods used in other countries and assessed their viability for use in the UK. That report suggested that a method which could be applied in the UK is the residual method used in the United States. The new report details how that method has been applied in the UK.
	It must be emphasised that, while this method is one that can be used with data available for the UK, over-reliance must not be placed on this result in the absence of the means to produce other estimates using different methods.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the safety and security of asylum seekers returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tony McNulty: As with returns to all countries, the Home Office does not routinely monitor the treatment of individual Congolese nationals once removed from the UK. We would not remove them if we considered that they were likely to suffer persecution on their return. If specific allegations are made that any returnee has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK, then these are followed up through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British embassy in Kinshasa as a matter of urgency.
	Embassy staff are regularly in contact with a wide range of domestic and international sources in Kinshasa including local lawyers, press and human rights activists, Ministers from the Transitional National Government and other western embassies.

Asylum/Immigration

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department takes against individuals who have obtained leave to remain in the United Kingdom by fraud.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999 gives the Secretary of State power to remove any individual who obtains leave to remain the UK by deception, section 10(8) of the Act automatically invalidates that leave.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid to the London borough of Barnet for special circumstances claims for asylum support costs in 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The National Asylum Support Service is responsible for administering the grant paid to local authorities supporting both adult and family asylum seekers under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999, as amended and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs) under the Children Act 1989.
	The grant is intended to meet direct costs incurred by local authorities. Where there is a shortfall an authority can seek a special circumstance payment. To qualify the authority must show that it has taken all reasonable steps to live within its grant ceiling.
	For 200405 the London borough of Barnet was paid 29,770 to meet its bid for a special circumstance payment in respect of adults and families only. This met the authority's bid in full. The London borough of Barnet did not bid for a special circumstances payment for UASCs.

Asylum/Immigration

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the refusal to grant Ms Hussaini Begum asylum in the UK.

Tony McNulty: I have written to Ms Begum's constituency MP on this matter.

Asylum/Immigration

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Tamworth are (a) registered as asylum seekers and (b) registered migrants awaiting a decision on the granting of a right to remain.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by local authority. The most recent publication covering the third quarter of 2005, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.
	Statistics on the location of persons awaiting a decision on their application for right to remain in the UK is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by the examination of individual case records.

Asylum/Immigration

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether immigration officers dealing with removals of families of failed asylum seekers in Scotland have been given clearance to undertake work that involves contact with children under the Children (Scotland) Act 2005.

Tony McNulty: All immigration officers, including those removing families of failed asylum seekers, are subject to a range of routine pre-employment checks, including checks against the Police National Computer. No additional checks are required by The Children (Scotland) Act 1995; the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 or the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005.

Asylum/Immigration

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made with handling the immigration appeal submitted by Mr. M.A.S., husband of Mrs. N.N. of Aylesbury (reference 868672; passport KD701035); and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The appeal papers for a Mr. M.A.S were received by the Appeals Processing Centre of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) on 25 May 2005.
	Appeals arising from an application, refused by the entry clearance officer (ECO) prior to the commencement of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) on 4 April 2005, are forwarded to IND by the ECO before being sent to the AIT to be determined.
	The AIT received the appeal papers on 22 December 2005, and a notice of hearing was sent to all parties on 29 December 2005. The appeal has been listed for hearing before an immigration judge on 20 March 2006.

Asylum/Immigration

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the Scottish Executive about attracting new immigrants to Scotland.

Tony McNulty: I have been working closely with the Scottish Executive and am in regular discussions with colleagues there about a variety of issues surrounding their Fresh Talent Initiative, which seeks to counter Scotland's falling and ageing population.

Asylum/Immigration

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are detained under Immigration Act powers; and how many of these are (a) asylum seekers whose asylum applications have yet to be determined and (b) asylum seekers whose asylum applications have been refused.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers is available from a snapshot taken on the last Saturday of the quarter and is published in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications on the Home Office research development and statistics directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	It is not possible to say which stage of the asylum process people are at when they are detained. The decision to detain is made on a case by case basis and may be appropriate in one or more of the following circumstances: to effect removal; to establish a person's identity and claim; where a person presents a risk of absconding or where the application is capable of being considered quickly.

Asylum/Immigration

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are detained under Immigration Act powers.

Tony McNulty: The number of children detained with their families under Immigration Act powers will change from day to day. However, internal management information shows that, as at 4 January 2006, there were 31 children detained with their families under Immigration Act powers: 28 at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre and three at Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre. These individuals were all detained as part of families whose detention, as a group was considered necessary. The figures provided do not constitute part of the national statistics and are based on management information.
	Information on the number of persons detained, as at 24 September 2005, broken down by those who are under 18 years of age, are published in the Quarterly Asylum Bulletin, on the Home Office research development and statistics directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Cannabis

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the change in the numbers of people who would be (a) arrested, (b) brought to court and (c) imprisoned if cannabis was re-classified as a class B drug.

Paul Goggins: The Home Secretary is currently considering the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the classification of cannabis. Any proposal to change the classification of a controlled drug would require a regulatory impact assessment to be drawn up which would include consideration of all relevant enforcement issues.

Children's Commissioners (Child Asylum Seekers)

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Children's Commissioners in the United Kingdom on the impact of section nine of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 on the welfare of children.

Tony McNulty: There have been no written representations received from any of the four children's commissioners in the United Kingdom on the impact of section nine of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 on the welfare of children. The director general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, hosted a meeting in December with all four Children's Commissioners at which a number of matters were discussed including section nine.

Cocaine

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle the increased use of cocaine in the United Kingdom.

Paul Goggins: Since 2000, the British Crime Survey (BCS) shows that cocaine use has remained broadly stable both for those aged 1659 and for young people aged 1624. There is also some evidence of a more recent reduction in use. Data from the BCS show that, between 200304 and 200405, there was a fall from 2.4 per cent. to 2.0 per cent. in the proportion of respondents aged 1659 reporting the use of cocaine on at least one occasion during the year preceding the survey. This equates to a 17 per cent. drop. However, the Government are not complacent about any of these figures and, through the Drug Strategy, are working to reduce the harms caused by all illicit drugs.
	The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) operates in the 97 areas with the highest levels of drug-related acquisitive crime. Individuals charged with certain offences are tested for class A drugs under the programme: one of several interventions to identify drug-misusing offenders and divert them into treatment and support services. From 1 December, three selected police forces have had powers to test for class A drugs on arrest. Those testing positive are required to attend an assessment with a drug worker. These new powers will be expanded further from 31 March.
	Heroin misuse has historically been the main the focus of treatment provision. However, the number of stimulant users presenting for treatment is increasing. Flexible treatment packages are being adopted in line with the National Treatment Agency's Effectiveness Strategy.
	For young people, the Government provide universal drugs education and targeted interventions for the vulnerable young people most likely to develop drug misuse problems.
	Internationally, UK law enforcement agencies work with overseas partners and between April 2001 and December 2004, 52 tonnes of cocaine bound for the UK market were seized.

Community Service Sentences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been given community service-based sentences on more than one occasion.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on offenders given community sentences on more than one separate occasion is not routinely collated.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) Parliamentary Questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords were dealt with by his Department in each year since 1995 in respect of the percentage his Department took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) Correspondence from Members and Peers
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence.
	The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 13740WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House. (A) In the period 1 January to 31 October 2005 the department (including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) but excluding the agencies) received 41,299 letters from Members and Peers and responded to 56 per cent. of them within 20 working days.
	The department, excluding IND, replied to 95 per cent. of the Members and Peer's letters received in October 2005 within the target of 15 working days.(B) The cost of establishing the proportion of letters that took over three months to answer would be disproportionate.
	(b) Correspondence from the public
	(A) The department holds correspondence performance data for two years only. The data relates to centrally received correspondence i.e. letters addressed to Ministers or 'the Home Office' and e-mails addressed to public.enquiries @homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk but excludes correspondence about IND and the agencies.
	The department aims to reply to correspondence from the public within 20 working days. In the period one June to 31 December 2003 the department received 7,864 letters from the public and replied to 85 per cent. within target. In 2004 the department received 17,133 letters and replied to 87 per cent. within target. In the period 1 January to 31 October 2005 the department received 13,724 letters and replied to 90 per cent. within target. (B) The cost of establishing the proportion of letters that took over three months to answer would be disproportionate.
	(c) Parliamentary Questions.
	The information requested is not held in this format and to collate this would incur disproportionate costs. Ministers give serious attention and make every effort to answer questions substantively and in accordance with the performance guidelines set.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the immigration and nationality directorate will reply to the letter of 25 November 2005 from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green; when Mr. Independencio So (Home Office reference S668821) will be granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with the ruling of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The immigration and nationality directorate replied to the hon. Members letter of 25 November addressed to the head of Member of Parliament's Correspondence Section on 6 December 2005. Mr. Independencio So was granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2006.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the immigration and nationality directorate will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Warley of 13 September on behalf of Jamail Singh of Shakespeare Road, Smethwick.

Tony McNulty: The immigration and nationality directorate (IND) replied to the right hon. Member for Warley on 10 January 2006.

Crime Detection Rates

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crime detection rates were recorded for offences of (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) robberies, (d) burglaries and (e) theft of a vehicle in (i) Greater London and (ii) Ruislip-Northwood constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally for the Ruislip-Northwood constituency. This constituency comes within the Hillingdon Basic Command Unit (BCD) and figures for that BCU and for Greater London are given in the table.
	
		Detection rates for recorded crime200405
		
			 Percentage 
			  Offence Greater London(78) Hillingdon Basic Command Unit 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 43 50 
			 Sexual offences 35 32 
			 Robbery 15 17 
			 Domestic burglary 14 14 
			 Theft of a vehicle 9 6 
		
	
	(78) Covers the Metropolitan police force area.

Crime Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of (a) speeding cases and (b) reported violent crimes led to (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information is not available in the form requested. Because recorded crime and speeding data refers to offences and court proceedings refers to defendants, the data are not directly comparable. In addition, recorded crime data is on a financial year basis and speeding offences and court proceedings data is on a calendar year basis.
	The available information relating to speeding offences and violent crime is provided in the table.
	
		Defendants(79) proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for violent crime offences(80), England and Wales
		
			 Number 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 2003 102,465 49,694 
			 2004 93,735 51,415 
		
	
	(79) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(80) Violent crime includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery offences

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for transferring the cost of compensation for criminal injuries at work to employers.

Fiona Mactaggart: We are currently consulting on the issue of removing from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme cases where someone is injured while at work. We are considering if employers, whether in the public or private sector, are best placed to protect their employees, minimise the risk to them and bear the risk of compensating them for their injuries if they fail to do so.
	In our Green Paper Rebuilding Lives; supporting victims of crime we ask for views on this issue.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees of rail companies in England and Wales have claimed criminal injuries compensation in relation to incidents in the course of their employment in 2005.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) record applications arising from injuries connected with the railway by type of incident rather than by occupation. The available information is that in the period 1 January 2005 to 30 November 2005 CICA received 172 applications from England and Wales where the incident type was listed as suicide or trespass on the railway or the London underground. Without going through each file individually it is not possible for CICA to say definitively whether all such claimants were in fact employees of rail companies and whether the injuries were sustained in the course of their employment.

Departmental Assets

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 10 most valuable (a) movable and (b) immovable assets owned by his Department.

Charles Clarke: The list of the 10 most valuable (a) movable and (b) immovable assets owned by the Home Department is in the following tables:
	
		Moveable assets
		
			 Directorate Moveable asset name Net book value @ 31 March 2005 () 
		
		
			 1 . Criminal Justice Snaresbrook Pilot Development and Set Up 11,583,568.46 
			 2. Immigration  Nationality Gloucester Data Centre 8,433,768.13 
			 3. Crime Reduction  Community Services Group Computer Systems Under ConstructionNetworks 7,748,133.01 
			 4. Immigration  Nationality System Development For Programme Plan 7,467,472.85 
			 5. Criminal Justice Snaresbrook Exchange Development and Set Up 5,582,251.87 
			 6. Criminal Justice Construction and Infrastructure of Snaresbrook Exchange 4,925,437.77 
			 7. Immigration  Nationality Computer Equipment Relating to Semaphore and E-borders 3,673,172.23 
			 8. Crime Reduction  Community Services Group Computer Systems Under ConstructionProject 2,594,909.99 
			 9. Crime Reduction  Community Services Group Computer Systems Under ConstructionForensics 2,453,689.47 
			 10. Criminal Justice Snaresbrook Pilot Development and Set Up (2) 2,150,474.19 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The definition of a movable asset is taken as all assets that are not Land and Buildings.
	2. Assets are shown at their individual asset values based on their Net Book Value at 31 March 2005.
	
		Immoveable assets
		
			 Directorate Immoveable asset name Net book value @ 31 March 2005 () 
		
		
			 1 . Correctional Services HMP Doncaster 92,617,364.60 
			 2. Correctional Services HMP Altcourse (Fazakerly) 67,266,506.38 
			 3. Correctional Services HMP Peterborough 64,292,666.67 
			 4. Correctional Services HMP Dovegate (Marchington) 61,766,013.55 
			 5. Correctional Services HMP Wolds 53,808,308.64 
			 6. Correctional Services HMP Ashford (Bronzefield) 46,445,833.33 
			 7. Correctional Services HMP Pare (Bridgend) 44,306,598.43 
			 8. Correctional Services HMP Agecroft (Forest Bank) 43,920,924.16 
			 9. Correctional Services HMP Rye Hill (Onley) 37,295,794.75 
			 10. Immigration  Nationality Harmondsworth Detention Centre 28,638,663.33 
		
	
	Note:
	Assets are shown at their individual asset values based on their Net Book Value at 31 March 2005.

Departmental Finance

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506 in each case.

Charles Clarke: The Department generally self-insures its buildings and its staff liabilities. The remaining information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Finance

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on bottled water in 200405.

Charles Clarke: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However I can confirm that on the Department's central London headquarters' estate the amount spent on bottled water dispensers for financial year 200405 was 46,665.34. Bottled water dispensers are provided in only a few selected areas in 2 Marsham Street and so this cost will reduce substantially for subsequent years.

Deportations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of extreme Islamic groups have been deported to (a) Jordan and (b) Libya since the Government signed memoranda of understanding with those countries.

Tony McNulty: A memorandum of understanding was signed with Jordan on 10 August 2005, and a second memorandum was signed with Libya on 18 October 2005.
	To date, no-one has been removed to either country in reliance on assurances obtained under those documents. There are several cases where we intend to deport on the strength of assurances, but removal cannot take place while an appeal against the decision to make the deportation order is pending.

Deportations

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which countries his Department is in negotiation concerning Memoranda of Understanding on deportation; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend announced at the start of last year that we were seeking to negotiate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with certain key middle-eastern and North African countries.
	Since then we have signed MoUs concerning the provision of assurances in respect of persons subject to deportation with Jordan, with Libya and with the Lebanon. We are also negotiating with Algeria.
	Our discussions with other countries are less advanced, and it would not be helpful to identify the countries concerned.

Deportations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what medical checks are carried out before the removal of deportees from the UK; and what steps are taken to ensure their wellbeing (a) during and (b) following their journey home.

Tony McNulty: If a person subject to removal is not detained prior to removal, it is the responsible of that individual to notify the Immigration Service (IS) of any medical conditions which might be a reason to delay or discontinue their removal from the UK.
	Immigration staff will then (with the person's consent) get from the individual's doctor or hospital details of the specific medical condition, the treatment being prescribed, and the fitness of the person to travel. Immigration staff will also make checks to establish the availability of treatment in the person's country of origin and an assessment of any diminution of life expectancy if removal takes place.
	If the person being removed is in detention they will receive a medical examination within 24 hours of their arrival at a removal centre. During detention individuals have access to the centre's healthcare team which includes a medical practitioner as well as nursing professionals. When there are concerns about an individual's health, the healthcare team will indicate to the Immigration Service whether or not an individual is fit to travel.

DNA Profiles

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 748W, on DNA profiles, when he expects technical changes to the link between the police national computer and the national DNA database to be made.

Andy Burnham: The changes to the police national computer (PNC) system and its link to the national DNA database are currently being considered by Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) and an impact assessment is being made. A meeting is scheduled for 13 January between PITO, the database custodian and the Forensic Science Service (FSS) to discuss the prioritisation of this and several other technical changes. Until the impact assessment is complete it is not possible to say precisely when the work will be scheduled, but would anticipate completion by the end of the calendar year.
	On 1 December the original question asked:
	How many people under 18 years have DNA profiles stored in the police national database without having been charged or cautioned for any offence?
	It was not then possible to provide the answer. A transitional solution provided by the police now enables this information to be compiled, though not as easily as the proposed PNC-national DNA database linkage would permit. On 1 December 2005 there were around 24,000 DNA person profiles on the DNA database which related to persons under 18 who had not been charged or cautioned for any offence.

Domestic Violence

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the sex of persons prosecuted for domestic violence cases is recorded by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: The sex of persons prosecuted is recorded for all cases handled by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) including domestic violence cases. However, this data is not collated and reported centrally.
	The hon. Gentleman has previously asked a question concerning the sex of persons prosecuted for domestic violence on 29 November 2005, official report, column 437W. The response to this question provided the total number of persons prosecuted (from a centralised performance management system) but concluded that:
	The gender of the persons prosecuted for domestic violence cases is not collected by the CPS'.
	This conclusion was incorrect and should have stated that:
	Regular flagging of all domestic violence cases has been monitored since April 2005. However, the gender of the persons prosecuted for domestic violence cases has not been collated and reported (centrally) by the CPS.
	Snapshot surveys since 2002 have collected one month of more detailed data annually, in relation to domestic violence, including gender. In 2002, 94 per cent. of defendants were male, in 200395 per cent. and in 200493 per cent. For 2004, the overwhelming majority of offences were perpetrated by a male defendant (93 per cent.) on a female (89 per cent.).
	Discussions are under way in relation to future possible systematic collation and reporting of such data.

Drunkenness (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been found guilty of (a) drunkenness and (b) drunkenness with aggravation in Coventry, South since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of offenders found guilty for drunkenness and drunkenness with aggravation in Coventry petty sessional area 1997 to 2004 is given in the following table. It is not possible to identify those convicted in Coventry, South as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	Court statistics for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty for drunkenness and drunkenness with aggravation in Coventry petty sessional area, 1997 to 2004(81)
		
			  Drunkenness(82) Drunkenness with aggravation(83) 
		
		
			 1997 20 84 
			 1998 6 65 
			 1999 5 46 
			 2000 13 64 
			 2001 8 77 
			 2002 11 62 
			 2003 25 42 
			 2004 20 66 
		
	
	(81) These data are on the principal offence basis
	(82) Includes offences under S.12 Licensing Act 1872, Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 SS.1(4), 1A(4), 2.(2) and S.12 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
	(83) Includes offences under S.91 Criminal Justice Act 1967.S.12 Licensing Act 1872, S.174 Licensing Act 1964, S.9(4) Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969, S.28 London Hackney Carriage Act 1843, SS.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5) Merchant Shipping Act 1995, S.2 Licensing Act 1902 and S.61 Town Police Clauses Act 1847

e-Borders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects e-borders to be fully operational.

Andy Burnham: E-borders is expected to become fully operational by March 2014.
	E-borders capabilities began to roll out to selected air routes through Project Semaphore in December 2004. They will roll out incrementally to major air sea and rail ports to ensure complete coverage of international services in and out of the UK by 2010. The remaining small air and sea ports will be covered in the last stage of the programme from 201014.

e-Borders

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the results of the pilot studies into the e-borders project.

Andy Burnham: The e-Borders programme is designed for delivery in three stages from 2004 to 2014.
	Stage One (200405 to 200708) consists of two projects: Project Semaphore which de-risks and informs the e-Borders programme by testing services, while delivering operational benefits to the border agencies and project IRIS which trials automated entry controls using biometrics.
	Key findings from the Project IRIS and Project Semaphore pilots will be reported to the House.

EU Migration

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is available to (a) Peterborough city council and (b) other organisations in Greater Peterborough to meet the costs of the provision of extra services needed as a result of the migration of EU accession country migrants since May 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: There is no additional funding available exclusively for the provision of services for migrants from EU accession countries. But Peterborough currently benefits from Government investment of over 1.5 million over three years in the Peterborough Invest to Save Asylum and Migration Programme project which seeks to help new arrivals in the city to integrate successfully.

EU Migration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made during the British presidency of the EU in implementing the action plan to deal with migration flows across the Mediterranean; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Substantial progress was made during the UK presidency to implement EU initiatives to tackle illegal migration across the Mediterranean.
	The EU Border Agency (FRONTEX) became fully operational in October 2005 and identified the Mediterranean as a priority area for action. EU member states conducted various joint exercises to detect and intercept irregular migrants, and to reinforce controls in sea ports.
	Important progress was made on strengthening co-operation with transit countries in North Africa. The 10th anniversary Euromed Summit in November 2005 adopted a five year work programme covering enhanced co-operation on all aspects of migration, including reducing illegal migration and trafficking in human beings. A ministerial meeting on migration will be held in 2006 to drive forward this agenda.
	In addition, the UK presidency advanced work with Libya on an action plan on illegal migration, due to be adopted early in 2006. A European Commission mission made recommendations for practical co-operation with Morocco and Algeria following the tragic events in Ceuta and Melilla. Key Mediterranean transit countries were involved in ED sea operations.
	On source countries in Africa, agreement was reached at the EU Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Troika in November and the EU Africa Troika in December to enhance and strengthen dialogue and practical cooperation on migration between ECOWAS, African countries, Pan-African institutions and the EU.
	At the end of the presidency, the December European Council adopted a paper Global approach to migration: Priority actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean, drawing together all strands of EU migration work in the Mediterranean and Africa and setting priority actions for 2006.
	Building on our presidency achievements, we will continue to encourage the EU to work in closer partnership with transit and source countries to tackle illegal migration across the Mediterranean and for improved migration management globally.

Forensic Science Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role the Forensic Science Service (FSS) had in the decision to award the contract to supply drugs testing equipment to the police to Cozart Bioscience Ltd.; and what assessment he has made of the link between the privatised arm of the FSS and Cozart Bioscience.

Paul Goggins: The Forensic Science Service's (FSS) role in the decision to award the contract to supply drugs testing equipment to Cozart Bioscience Ltd. was limited to the provision of impartial, expert scientific and technical advice to the Home Office's Drug Interventions Programme (DIP). This was in order to evaluate the products from all companies arising from a tender issued by the DIP via an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union in 2003 for the supply of drugs testing equipment for police forces to use in custody suites.
	The FSS does not have a privatised arm and, having been incorporated as a Government owned company on 5 December 2005, remains a public authority. However, it has a commercial collaboration arrangement in place with Cozart, which is managed by a distinct unit within the FSS that is completely separate and has no connection with any activities relating to the FSS' role in the provision of impartial expert and technical advice, performance testing, quality assurance and independent evaluation of test kits and equipment to the Home Office. The Department is satisfied that ethical walls have been established within the FSS to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent the disclosure of any information relating to the DIP, and commercial or otherwise technical data between the different areas of the organisation concerned.

Homophobic Crime

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated relating to homophobic crime;
	(2)  what guidelines for police forces his Department has published on (a) homophobic-related crime and (b) racially motivated crime;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had on homophobic crime; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what duty is placed on police forces to (a) collect and (b) publish statistics related to reported incidences of homophobic crime.

Paul Goggins: The Metropolitan Police Service conducted a six-month study Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime which analysed hate crime incidents, including homophobic crime reported in that period. However, the Home Office has not commissioned any research on homophobic crime. Similarly a number of discussions have been held with stakeholders. These are being used in developing policy to tackle hate crime more effectively including homophobic crimes.
	In May this year the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Home Office jointly published a hate crime manual, 'Hate Crime: Delivering a Quality Service'. This builds on the code of practice on reporting and recording racists incidents published and distributed in 2000.
	At present no duty is placed on police forces to collect or publish incidents of hate crime.

Humberside Police

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State forthe Home Department what assessment he has made of the burden of paperwork faced by Humberside police.

Hazel Blears: The National Bureaucracy Adviser provides practical assistance to all forces, including Humberside, in the timely and effective implementation of their work on reducing bureaucratic burdens on police officers. This includes visiting forces to spread good practice; challenging, where necessary, existing practices; and driving force-led reductions in bureaucracy. We have made good progress in reducing the bureaucratic burdens on police officers by cutting nearly 9,000 unnecessary forms; civilianising posts; rolling out the penalty notice for disorder scheme; and ensuring that forces have the best scientific and technological support like video identity parades and electronic fingerprinting so that officers spend more time in communities tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and reassuring the public.

Identity Cards

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department estimates the cost to public funds of introducing identity cards will be by 2012.

Andy Burnham: The average annual running costs are estimated as 584 million for issuing passports and identity cards to UK nationals.
	We expect that any integration costs for other Government Departments will not be significant before 2012, as they will want to see the identity cards scheme achieve significant coverage before investing in readers and other equipment.

Identity Fraud

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of identity fraud by applicants using a deceased person's details for a new passport have taken place in each of the last five years; and at what cost to his Department.

Andy Burnham: The figures for the number of passport applications detected by the UK Passport Service in which a deceased person's details have been used are as follows.
	
		
			  Number of applications 
		
		
			 2001 214 
			 2002 288 
			 2003 173 
			 2004 171 
			 2005 81 
		
	
	The cost to my Department of detecting these cases is contained within the overall cost of processing a passport application, through examination and fraud investigation techniques which are covered by the passport fee.

Identity Fraud

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of identity fraud by applicants using false address details for a new passport have taken place in each of the last five years; and at what cost to his Department.

Andy Burnham: Figures relating to the number of fraudulent passport applications detected in which a false address is given are not routinely collated by the UK Passport Service and are not therefore available.
	The cost to my Department of detecting these cases is contained within the overall cost of processing a passport application, through examination and fraud investigation techniques which are covered by the passport fee.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff work on the hotline for hon. Members at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Tony McNulty: In 200506 the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) MPs' Hotline is funded for 20 posts. Four of these posts are currently vacant but should be filled early in 2006 through an internal selection process.

London Bombings

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to extend changes made to the criminal injuries compensation scheme to the victims of the 7 July bombings.

Fiona Mactaggart: The question of making any scheme changes retrospective was addressed in the Home Office consultation paper 'Rebuilding Lives: supporting victims of crime' published on 7 December 2005. The relevant passage, at page 19, reads:
	We recognise that changes to the scheme mean that some cases would be dealt with differently in future and that some applicants who have already received their compensation would have received more under a new scheme. However, we do not believe that it would be fair or workable to apply changes retrospectively. Changes also need to be approved by Parliament, which could mean that it could be at least a year before any changes could come into effect. We would welcome views on whether changes to the scheme should apply from the date of the incident or the date of the application.
	Potential applicants to the scheme should not alter their decision on whether or when to apply to the scheme as a result of anything in this paper.
	The full text of the consultation document can be found on the Home Office website through http://www.cjsonline.gov.uk/the_cjs/whats_new/news-3258.html.

London County Council (General Powers) Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted during 2004 of an offence under section 20(1) of the London County Council (General Powers) Act 1954.

Hazel Blears: Persons proceeded against and found guilty at the magistrates courts of offences under section 20(1) of the London County Council (General Powers) Act 1954 cannot be separately identified on the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform as they form part of a miscellaneous group which cannot be analysed.

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 16 years, (ii) 16 to 18 years, (iii) 19 to 24 years, (iv) 25 to 30 years, (v) 30 to 40 years and (vi) 40 years and over found guilty of an offence under section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 were sentenced to (A) five years' imprisonment, (B)four years' imprisonment, (C) three years' imprisonment, (D) two years' imprisonment, (E) one year's imprisonment, (F) six months' imprisonment, (G) community service and (H) a fine only in (1) Essex, (2) the Metropolitan police part of London, (3) Hertfordshire and (4) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is contained in the following tables.
	
		Sentencing overview for persons convicted of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm, 2000 to 2004
		
			 Number of offenders 
			  2000 
			  Sentenced Immediate custody Community sentence Fine 
		
		
			 Male 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 5 3 2 0 
			 1618 5 3 2 0 
			 1924 24 20 3 0 
			 2530 10 7 2 1 
			 3140 9 6 2 1 
			 41+ 4 3 1 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 9 2 6 0 
			 1618 69 30 34 0 
			 1924 95 65 20 2 
			 2530 55 47 6 0 
			 3140 74 45 15 0 
			 41+ 40 22 11 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 3 0 3 0 
			 1618 8 6 2 0 
			 1924 19 12 5 0 
			 2530 5 4 1 0 
			 3140 9 7 0 0 
			 41+ 1 0 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 165 38 94 0 
			 1618 739 327 364 8 
			 1924 1,359 814 452 24 
			 2530 746 459 216 17 
			 3140 724 413 211 23 
			 41+ 339 151 112 9 
			  
			 Female 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 0 0 0 0 
			 1618 1 1 0 0 
			 1924 0 0 0 0 
			 2530 4 1 3 0 
			 3140 0 0 0 0 
			 41+ 2 1 1 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 3 1 2 0 
			 1618 6 4 2 0 
			 1924 5 2 2 1 
			 2530 2 0 1 0 
			 3140 3 2 1 0 
			 41+ 3 3 0 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 0 0 0 0 
			 1618 0 0 0 0 
			 1924 4 0 4 0 
			 2530 0 0 0 0 
			 3140 0 0 0 0 
			 41+ 1 0 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 24 3 19 0 
			 1618 89 24 59 0 
			 1924 116 35 68 2 
			 2530 77 31 35 0 
			 3140 79 25 35 1 
			 41+ 38 14 17 0 
			  
			 Persons 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 5 3 2 0 
			 1618 6 4 2 0 
			 1924 24 20 3 0 
			 2530 14 8 5 1 
			 3140 9 6 2 1 
			 41+ 6 4 2 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 12 3 8 0 
			 1618 75 34 36 0 
			 1924 100 67 22 3 
			 2530 57 47 7 0 
			 3140 77 47 16 0 
			 41+ 43 25 11 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 3 0 3 0 
			 1618 8 6 2 0 
			 1924 23 12 9 0 
			 2530 5 4 1 0 
			 3140 9 7 0 0 
			 41+ 2 0 2 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 189 41 113 0 
			 1618 828 351 423 8 
			 1924 1,475 849 520 26 
			 2530 823 490 251 17 
			 3140 803 438 246 24 
			 41+ 377 165 129 9 
		
	
	
		Number of offenders
		
			 2001 
			  Sentenced Immediate custody Community sentence Fine 
		
		
			 Male 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 1 0 1 0 
			 1618 8 4 4 0 
			 1924 18 10 8 0 
			 2530 8 8 0 0 
			 3140 12 6 1 0 
			 41+ 5 4 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 19 5 14 0 
			 1618 48 21 25 0 
			 1924 86 63 14 1 
			 2530 53 37 11 0 
			 3140 61 39 13 0 
			 41+ 50 27 12 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 2 0 2 0 
			 1618 6 3 2 1 
			 1924 15 12 3 0 
			 2530 7 7 0 0 
			 3140 9 8 0 0 
			 41+ 5 2 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 189 41 127 0 
			 1618 649 299 317 9 
			 1924 1,354 866 414 17 
			 2530 734 472 204 10 
			 3140 716 406 217 14 
			 41+ 362 180 116 6 
			  
			 Female 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 0 0 0 0 
			 1618 3 2 1 0 
			 1924 0 0 0 0 
			 2530 1 0 1 0 
			 3140 1 0 1 0 
			 41+ 1 0 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 4 0 4 0 
			 1618 5 2 3 0 
			 1924 9 5 3 0 
			 2530 5 2 2 0 
			 3140 5 3 2 0 
			 41+ 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 1 1 0 0 
			 1618 1 1 0 0 
			 1924 2 1 1 0 
			 2530 0 0 0 0 
			 3140 1 0 1 0 
			 41+ 1 0 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 22 1 20 0 
			 1618 81 24 52 1 
			 1924 108 44 50 2 
			 2530 64 25 29 0 
			 3140 80 26 43 0 
			 41+ 38 6 23 0 
			  
			 Persons 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 1 0 1 0 
			 1618 11 6 5 0 
			 1924 18 10 8 0 
			 2530 9 8 1 0 
			 3140 13 6 2 0 
			 41+ 6 4 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 23 5 18 0 
			 1618 53 23 28 0 
			 1924 95 68 17 1 
			 2530 58 39 13 0 
			 3140 66 42 15 0 
			 41+ 50 27 12 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 3 1 2 0 
			 1618 7 4 2 1 
			 1924 17 13 4 0 
			 2530 7 7 0 0 
			 3140 10 8 1 0 
			 41+ 6 2 2 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 211 42 147 0 
			 1618 730 323 369 10 
			 1924 1,462 910 464 19 
			 2530 798 497 233 10 
			 3140 796 432 260 14 
			 41+ 400 186 139 6 
		
	
	
		Number of offenders
		
			 2002 
			  Sentenced Immediate custody Community sentence Fine 
		
		
			 Male 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 1 0 1 0 
			 1618 14 10 4 0 
			 1924 19 16 3 0 
			 2530 10 6 3 0 
			 3140 14 11 1 0 
			 41+ 3 3 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 12 4 8 0 
			 1618 47 25 18 0 
			 1924 93 63 26 0 
			 2530 53 39 10 0 
			 3140 102 78 13 2 
			 41+ 39 26 7 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 5 1 4 0 
			 1618 19 9 9 0 
			 1924 23 16 5 0 
			 2530 10 7 3 0 
			 3140 10 8 2 0 
			 41+ 3 2 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 182 38 134 0 
			 1618 713 320 354 5 
			 1924 1,420 841 495 27 
			 2530 722 456 202 10 
			 3140 789 460 236 13 
			 41+ 361 162 131 8 
			  
			 Female 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 0 0 0 0 
			 1618 2 0 2 0 
			 1924 1 1 0 0 
			 2530 0 0 0 0 
			 3140 1 0 1 0 
			 41+ 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 3 1 2 0 
			 1618 9 7 2 0 
			 1924 13 6 6 0 
			 2530 8 5 3 0 
			 3140 11 4 5 0 
			 41+ 6 2 3 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 1 0 1 0 
			 1618 2 2 0 0 
			 1924 0 0 0 0 
			 2530 1 1 0 0 
			 3140 1 0 1 0 
			 41+ 1 1 0 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 27 2 24 1 
			 1618 79 28 47 0 
			 1924 124 39 69 2 
			 2530 57 27 27 0 
			 3140 107 28 56 0 
			 41+ 52 12 26 0 
			  
			 Persons 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 1 0 1 0 
			 1618 16 10 6 0 
			 1924 20 17 3 0 
			 2530 10 6 3 0 
			 3140 15 11 2 0 
			 41+ 3 3 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 15 5 10 0 
			 1618 56 32 20 0 
			 1924 106 69 32 0 
			 2530 61 44 13 0 
			 3140 113 82 18 2 
			 41+ 45 28 10 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 6 1 5 0 
			 1618 21 11 9 0 
			 1924 23 16 5 0 
			 2530 11 8 3 0 
			 3140 11 8 3 0 
			 41+ 4 3 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 209 40 158 1 
			 1618 792 348 401 5 
			 1924 1,544 880 564 29 
			 2530 779 483 229 10 
			 3140 896 488 292 13 
			 41+ 413 174 157 8 
		
	
	
		Number of offenders
		
			 2003 
			  Sentenced Immediate custody Community sentence Fine 
		
		
			 Male 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 4 2 2 0 
			 1618 13 8 5 0 
			 1924 17 11 6 0 
			 2530 8 5 2 0 
			 3140 12 8 2 0 
			 41+ 4 2 1 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 10 2 8 0 
			 1618 43 15 26 1 
			 1924 89 59 29 1 
			 2530 59 43 12 0 
			 3140 74 46 23 1 
			 41+ 57 28 17 1 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 3 0 3 0 
			 1618 9 4 5 0 
			 1924 11 9 2 0 
			 2530 8 6 2 0 
			 3140 6 4 2 0 
			 41+ 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 184 24 144 0 
			 1618 659 239 383 7 
			 1924 1,339 819 471 10 
			 2530 663 418 196 8 
			 3140 767 422 270 9 
			 41+ 411 191 151 7 
			  
			 Female 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 1 1 0 0 
			 1618 1 0 1 0 
			 1924 4 2 1 0 
			 2530 0 0 0 0 
			 3140 0 0 0 0 
			 41+ 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 2 1 1 0 
			 1618 6 1 5 0 
			 1924 9 4 4 0 
			 2530 6 1 2 1 
			 3140 7 1 3 0 
			 41+ 2 1 1 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 0 0 0 0 
			 1618 0 0 0 0 
			 1924 0 0 0 0 
			 2530 1 1 0 0 
			 3140 1 0 1 0 
			 41+ 1 0 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 35 5 28 0 
			 1618 57 10 45 0 
			 1924 149 54 78 1 
			 2530 54 14 33 1 
			 3140 88 26 44 0 
			 41+ 49 11 25 1 
			  
			 Persons 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 5 3 2 0 
			 1618 14 8 6 0 
			 1924 21 13 7 0 
			 2530 8 5 2 0 
			 3140 12 8 2 0 
			 41+ 4 2 1 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 12 3 9 0 
			 1618 49 16 31 1 
			 1924 98 63 33 1 
			 2530 65 44 14 1 
			 3140 81 47 26 1 
			 41+ 59 29 18 1 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 3 0 3 0 
			 1618 9 4 5 0 
			 1924 11 9 2 0 
			 2530 9 7 2 0 
			 3140 7 4 3 0 
			 41+ 1 0 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 219 29 172 0 
			 1618 716 249 428 7 
			 1924 1,488 873 549 11 
			 2530 717 432 229 9 
			 3140 855 448 314 9 
			 41+ 460 202 176 8 
		
	
	
		Number of offenders
		
			 2004 
			  Sentenced Immediate custody Community sentence Fine 
		
		
			 Male 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 3 0 3 0 
			 1618 8 6 2 0 
			 1924 19 17 1 0 
			 2530 13 10 2 0 
			 3140 6 6 0 0 
			 41+ 6 4 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 10 1 9 0 
			 1618 47 26 19 1 
			 1924 98 72 22 1 
			 2530 61 43 12 1 
			 3140 69 54 8 0 
			 41+ 51 27 16 0 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 2 0 2 0 
			 1618 4 3 1 0 
			 1924 11 9 2 0 
			 2530 8 5 1 1 
			 3140 5 3 2 0 
			 41+ 3 3 0 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 180 24 146 0 
			 1618 665 307 327 3 
			 1924 1,400 848 489 13 
			 2530 627 377 195 16 
			 3140 674 408 199 9 
			 41+ 386 192 130 8 
			  
			 Female 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 1 1 0 0 
			 1618 0 0 0 0 
			 1924 2 2 0 0 
			 2530 2 2 0 0 
			 3140 1 1 0 0 
			 41+ 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 2 0 2 0 
			 1618 2 0 2 0 
			 1924 3 1 1 0 
			 2530 3 1 0 0 
			 3140 7 6 0 0 
			 41+ 6 3 1 1 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 0 0 0 0 
			 1618 1 1 0 0 
			 1924 2 2 0 0 
			 2530 1 0 1 0 
			 3140 0 0 0 0 
			 41+ 1 0 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 26 5 20 0 
			 1618 66 14 50 0 
			 1924 114 38 65 2 
			 2530 69 27 30 0 
			 3140 80 28 40 0 
			 41+ 44 10 22 1 
			  
			 Persons 
			 Essex 
			 Under 16 4 1 3 0 
			 1618 8 6 2 0 
			 1924 21 19 1 0 
			 2530 15 12 2 0 
			 3140 7 7 0 0 
			 41+ 6 4 0 0 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Under 16 12 1 11 0 
			 1618 49 26 21 1 
			 1924 101 73 23 1 
			 2530 64 44 12 1 
			 3140 76 60 8 0 
			 41+ 57 30 17 1 
			  
			 Hertfordshire 
			 Under 16 2 0 2 0 
			 1618 5 4 1 0 
			 1924 13 11 2 0 
			 2530 9 5 2 1 
			 3140 5 3 2 0 
			 41+ 4 3 1 0 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 Under 16 206 29 166 0 
			 1618 731 321 377 3 
			 1924 1,514 886 554 15 
			 2530 696 404 225 16 
			 3140 754 436 239 9 
			 41+ 430 202 152 9 
		
	
	Source:
	RDS NOMS 14 December 2005

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted in England and Wales of offences under sections (A) 4, (B) 5, (C) 9, (D) 17, (E) 22, (F) 24, (G) 29, (H) 30, (I) 32, (J) 33, (K) 34, (L) 35, (M) 36, (N) 57 and (O) 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in 2004.

Hazel Blears: Information taken from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty of the sections under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 as mentioned in the question at all courts England and Wales, 2004 is contained in the following table.
	
		Number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for certain sections under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, England and Wales, 2004(84)
		
			   Male Female 
			 Offence description Principal statutes Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Conspiracy or soliciting, etc., to commit murder Criminal Law Act 1977 S.1; Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.4 51 9 8 1 
			 Manslaughter Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.5, 9  10 119 239 18 26 
			 Murder of persons aged one year or over Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9  10 681 340 73 17 
			 Murder of infants under one year of age Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9  10 4 3 1 1 
			 Impeding the saving of life from shipwreck Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.17 
			 Using Chloroform, etc., to commit or assist uncommitting an indictable offence Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.22 8 1 1  
			 Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.24 15 9 5 3 
			 Causing, explosions or casting corrosive fluids with intent to do grievous bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.29 4 7 3 2 
			 Placing, etc., explosives in or near ships or buildings with intent to do Offences against the Person Act bodily harm, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.30  2   
			 Endangering railway passengers by placing, etc., anything on railway, taking up rails, changing points and signals etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.32 9 1   
			 Endangering railway passengers by throwing anything at railway carriages, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.33 1
			 Endangering railway passengers by unlawful acts, or by omission or neglect Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.34 41 21 1 1 
			 Causing bodily harm by furious driving Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.35 19 11 2 2 
			 Obstructing, assaulting or arresting upon civil process clergymen performing service Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.36 8 3 1  
			 Concealment of birth Offences against the Person Act 1861 S60   1  
			 Bigamy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S57 18 17 4 5 
		
	
	(84) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.

Organised Crime

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the geographical distribution of organised crime.

Paul Goggins: The UK Threat Assessment for 200405 to 200506, which is published by the National Criminal Intelligence Service, sets out the threat to the UK from organised crime. The assessment does not attempt to apportion the distribution of organised crime by region. It is, however, geographically widespread with major distribution hubs for criminal commodities found in areas of high population.

Press Releases

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place copies of documents to which press releases relate on his Department's website at the same time that the press release is issued; and if he will ensure there is a full link to the document's URL as contained in the press release.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office always aims to publish press releases, and related documents, simultaneously on the Home Office website. Press Releases are located in the press office section of the website http://press.homeoffice.gov.uk/ and include in the 'Notes to Editors' links to related Home Office publications or statistics. Systems have been developed and implemented over the past three months since the launch of the new websites to enable the process of ensuring full URL links to documents are in the press releases.

Preventing Extremism Working Groups

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people were considered for membership of the Preventing Extremism working groups;
	(2)  whether (a) he and (b) his officials had discussions with people considered for membership of the Preventing Extremism working groups concerning the criteria according to which candidates for membership of the Preventing Extremism working groups were assessed;
	(3)  what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials had with people considered for membership of the Preventing Extremism working groups concerning the suitability of other people considered for membership of the working groups;
	(4)  according to what criteria candidates for membership of the Preventing Extremism groups were assessed;
	(5)  on what dates the criteria for selecting members ofthe Preventing Extremism working groups were revised;
	(6)  on what date criteria were first drawn up for selecting the members of the Preventing Extremism working groups;
	(7)  what criteria were drawn up for selecting members of the Preventing Extremism working groups.

Paul Goggins: The Preventing Extremism Together working groups were created as part of an exercise which was carried out informally as part of our immediate response to the July bombings.
	Suggestions as to possible members came both orally and in writing from Ministerial visits which took place over the summer, through a designated email account, from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, and following the Prime Minister's and my own meetings with key faith leaders and others.
	Members of the working groups were invited to participate because of their expertise and experience. A key factor was to ensure that the groups had credibility with the Muslim communities. In selecting these individuals consideration was given to those who were both challenging voices and well established figures who have the support of their community. To ensure a broad spectrum of representation, high profile and internationally known individuals were invited alongside individuals who hold a variety of different views. They were invited in a personal, unpaid capacity, rather than as representatives of their organisations and held no official status. The result of this was seven working groups with a membership total of 104.

Prisoner Licences

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held beyond their licence expiry date following recall to prison; and how many times in the last two years prisons have failed to release recalled prisoners on time.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoner Licences

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Early Release and Recall Section of the National Offender Management Service monitors the performance of individual prisons in releasing recalled prisoners before their licence expiry date (LED); and what action is taken where a prison is known to have held a prisoner beyond their LED.

Fiona Mactaggart: It is the responsibility of Prison Service senior managers to monitor the performance of individual prisons.
	Recalled prisoners can only be re-released if their sentence has expired or the Parole Board has recommended release. In taking into account whether to re-release a recalled prisoner sentenced under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, the Parole Board is required to have regard to the prisoner's licence expiry date.
	If it comes to the attention of the Release and Recall Section or the Prison Service that a recalled prisoner is, for any reason, being held beyond the date of their re-release, staff are required to take immediate steps to facilitate the release process.

Prisons

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions of section 2.17 of the Prison Act 1952 covering location and accommodation applies to (a) Broadmoor and (b) other secure hospitals.

Fiona Mactaggart: The secure hospitals, including the high secure hospitals, are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health. The provisions of the National Health Service Act 1977 applies to them and not the Prisons Act 1952.

Probation Service

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been employed in the probation service in (a) Greater London and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Comparative information on staffing numbers is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to 1 April 2003 is unreliable and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented below show full-time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each quarter from 1 April 2003 to 30 September 2005.
	Staffing information is collected by probation area, and is not collected centrally in a format that allows figures for the London borough of Hillingdon to be presented separately. The staffing figures are provided for London probation area only.
	
		London probation area
		
			  FTE in post 
		
		
			 30 June 2003 2,170.5 
			 30 September 2003 2,238.0 
			 31 December 2003 2,510.0 
			 31 March 2004 2,538.0 
			 30 June 2004 2,479.2 
			 30 September 2004 2,458.5 
			 31 December 2004 2,398.3 
			 31 March 2005 2,377.3 
			 30 June 2005 2,394.5 
			 30 September 2005 2,394.3

Probation Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is the director of (a) the probation service, (b) the Southend probation service and (c) the Essex probation service; what relevant specialist qualifications each holds; and what the career of each has been to date.

Fiona Mactaggart: The director of probation is Roger Hill. Roger Hill holds a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) and an MBA.
	He has served as a probation officer, senior probation officer, assistant chief probation officer and chief officer of two local probation areas.
	Mary Archer is the chief officer of Essex probation area. She was appointed in 2003, having been an assistant chief officer in another area. She also holds a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, and a Chartered Management qualification.
	Essex probation area includes Southend.

Rates

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the Prison Service in rates to each local authority in the UK in 200405; and how much was paid (a) in each (i) nation and (ii) region of the UK and (b) in London.

Fiona Mactaggart: The rates paid by the Prison Service in England and Wales in 200405 is shown in the following table by:
	Overall Total
	English Regions
	Billing Authority
	London figures are included under English Regions. Wales is not divided into regions.
	
		Prison Service rates
		
			 Location Rates payable 200405 () 
		
		
			 England and Wales-Overall 25,504,569.79 
			   
			 England 24,905,308.19 
			 Wales 599,261.60 
			   
			 English Regions  
			 North East 1,678,937.96 
			 North West 3,789,121.47 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 3,034,637.78 
			 East Midlands 1,800,313.98 
			 West Midlands 2,822,056.77 
			 East of England 1,830,972.35 
			 South East 5,491,333.96 
			 South West 1,813,880.34 
			 London 2,644,053.58 
			   
			 Billing Authority  
			 Arun District Council 135,888.00 
			 Ashford Borough Council 228.00 
			 Aylesbury Vale District Council 360,240.00 
			 Bassetlaw District Council 177,840.00 
			 Bedford Borough Council 131,100.00 
			 Birmingham City Council 386,688.00 
			 Blaby District Council 232,090.45 
			 Boston Borough Council 31,350.00 
			 Breckland District Council 235,288.53 
			 Bridgend County Borough Council 217,412.00 
			 Bristol City Council 186,960.00 
			 Bromsgrove District Council 459,475.14 
			 Canterbury City Council 78,432.00 
			 Cardiff County Council 174,020.00 
			 Castle Morpeth District Council 367,080.00 
			 Chelmsford Borough Council 133,152.00 
			 Cherwell District Council 494,357.27 
			 Chorley Borough Council 583,969.02 
			 City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council 378,024.00 
			 City of York Council 37,392.00 
			 Copeland Borough Council 138,487.20 
			 Dacorum Borough Council 325,128.00 
			 Daventy District Council 301,416.00 
			 Derbyshire Dales District Council 117,192.00 
			 Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council 1,037,023.32 
			 Dover District Council 229,368.00 
			 Durham City Council 706,024.80 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire District Council 716,410.06 
			 East Staffordshire Borough Council 247,266.00 
			 Exeter City Council 129,960.00 
			 Fenland District Council 362,520.00 
			 Fylde Borough Council 148,656.00 
			 Gloucester City Council 91,200.00 
			 Gosport District Council 52,896.00 
			 Greenwich London Borough Council 808,882.57 
			 Guildford District Council 60,739.20 
			 Hambleton District Council 63,840.00 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council 533,698.79 
			 Harborough District Council 128,820.00 
			 Hounslow London Borough Council 312,864.22 
			 Huntingdonshire District Council 227,238.23 
			 Isle of Wight Borough Council 402,648.00 
			 Islington London Borough Council 541,728.00 
			 Kennet District Council 83,231.99 
			 Kingston upon Hull City Council 243,504.00 
			 Lambeth London Borough Council 119,472.00 
			 Lancaster City Council 477,896.60 
			 Leeds City Council 558,444.40 
			 Leicester City Council 66,120.00 
			 Lewes District Council 144,552.00 
			 Lichfield District Council 123,148.11 
			 Lincoln City Council 139,764.00 
			 Liverpool City Council 760,152.00 
			 Macclesfield Borough Council 109,440.00 
			 Maidstone Borough Council 169,860.00 
			 Manchester City Council 446,424.00 
			 Medway Towns, The Council 181,075.35 
			 Mendip District Council 82,080.00 
			 Milton Keynes Borough Council 621,153.52 
			 Monmouthshire County Council 102,513.60 
			 Newark and Sherwood District Council 208,152.45 
			 North Dorset District Council 182,400.00 
			 North Kesteven District Council 89,131.81 
			 North Shropshire District Council 145,236.00 
			 Norwich City Council 164,757.05 
			 Nottingham City Council 101,360.69 
			 Peterborough City Council 3,148.27 
			 Portsmouth City Council 76,380.00 
			 Preston City Council 108,072.00 
			 Reading Borough Council 86,298.00 
			 Reigate and Banstead District Council 547,200.00 
			 Richmond Upon Thames London Borough Council 60,192.00 
			 Rochdale Borough Council 125,400.00 
			 Rochford District Council 60,648.00 
			 Rugby Borough Council 115,596.00 
			 Rushcliffe Borough Council 60,648.00 
			 Rutland District Council 315,096.00 
			 Salford City Council 223,440.00 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham District Council 61,031.54 
			 South Derbyshire District Council 28,324.58 
			 South Gloucestershire District Council 364,700.35 
			 South Oxfordshire District Council 140,676.00 
			 South Staffordshire District Council 408,209.98 
			 Spelthorne District Council 169,417.12 
			 St. Edmundsbury Borough Council 248,520.00 
			 Stafford Borough Council 207,480.00 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands District Council 80,256.00 
			 Stockton on Tees Borough Council 390,145.16 
			 Suffolk Coastal District Council 165,984.00 
			 Surrey Heath Borough Council 173,280.00 
			 Swale Borough Council 873,709.50 
			 Swansea County Council 105,316.00 
			 Teesdale District Council 215,688.00 
			 Teignbridge District Council 194,256.00 
			 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 44,688.00 
			 Wandsworth London Borough Council 267,216.00 
			 Warrington Borough Council 449,444.66 
			 Waveney District Council 98,616.27 
			 Wellingborough District Council 104,424.00 
			 West Devon Borough Council 144,324.00 
			 West Dorset District Council 57,000.00 
			 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council 297,768.00 
			 Wigan Borough Council 217,740.00 
			 Winchester City Council 123,120.00 
			 Wychavon District Council 286,254.00

Rates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the (a) Forensic Science Service, (b) Criminal Records Bureau and (c) UK Passport Service in rates to each local authority in the UK in 200405; and how much was paid in (i) each (A) nation and (B) region of the UK and (ii) London.

Charles Clarke: The rates payments made by Forensic Science Service, Criminal Records Bureau and UK Passport Service during financial year 200405 are given in the following table:
	
		
		
			 Local authority Forensic science service Criminal records bureau UK passport service 
		
		
			 Durham county council   204,030 
			 NI rate collection   68,971 
			 Liverpool city council  161,274 660,000 
			 Newport city council   80,195 
			 Westminster city council   831,500 
			 Glasgow city council   184,886 
			 Peterborough city council   173,936 
			 Birmingham city council 110,016   
			 London borough of Lambeth 384,020   
			 Leeds city council 83,556   
			 Solihull Met borough council 294,134   
			 Monmouthshire county council 86,726   
			 Huntingdon district council 105,642   
			 Chorley borough council 64,686   
			 Sandwell Met borough council 66,043   
			 Blackburn with Darwen local authority  45,264  
			 Total paid 1,194,823 206,538 2,203,518 
			 
			 (A) region
			 Scotland   184,886 
			 Wales 86,726  80,196 
			 Northern Ireland   68,971 
			 North West 148,242  660,000 
			 North East  206,538 204,030 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber
			 East Midlands
			 West Midlands 470,193   
			 East of England   173,935 
			 South East 105,642   
			 South West
			 London 384,020  831,500 
			 
			 (B) nation
			 England 1,108,097 206,538 1,869,465 
			 Scotland   184,886 
			 Wales 86,726  80,196 
			 Northern Ireland   68,971 
			 
			 (ii) London 384,020  831,500 
		
	
	The FSS provides services to England and Wales, CRB to England, Wales and Northern Ireland and UKPS to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Rates

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the Immigration and Nationality Service in rates to each local authority in the UK in 200405; and how much was paid in (a) each (i) region and (ii) nation of the UK and (b) London.

Tony McNulty: Immigration and nationality directorate paid a total of 12,485,495 in rates in 200405. The breakdown of this payment is as follows:
	
		
			 England region Amount () 
		
		
			 (a) region  
			 London 5,951,272 
			 East Midlands 146,618 
			 East of England 105,731 
			 North West of England 965,020 
			 South East of England 895,812 
			 South West of England 119,811 
			 West Midlands 925,802 
			 Yorkshire 308,330 
			 Total England 9,418,396 
			   
			 Northern Ireland 15,114 
			 Scotland 389,978 
			 Wales 41,086 
			 Other payments with no regional classification 2,620,921 
			   
			 Total Rates 12,485,495 
			   
			 (b) London  
			 London Total 5,951,272

Rental Costs

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the Immigration and Nationality Service in rent for properties (a) in total, (b) in each (i) region and (ii) nation of the UK and (c) in London in 200405.

Tony McNulty: The information is as follows.
	(a) In total
	The total amount paid by the Immigration and Nationality Service in rent for properties was 34,666,400 broken down as follows:
	
		
			 Englandregion Amount () 
		
		
			 (b) (i) region (ii) nation  
			 East Midlands 326,880 
			 East of England 386,105 
			 London 24,022,220 
			 North East of England 62,384 
			 North West 2,362,629 
			 South East 2,585,349 
			 South West 579,351 
			 West Midlands 1,246,578 
			 Yorkshire 2,154,639 
			 Total England 33,726,135 
			   
			 Northern Ireland 51,008 
			 Scotland 803,595 
			 Wales 85,662 
			 Total 34,666,400 
			   
			 (c) in London  
			 London 24,022,220

Rental Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid in rent for properties by the (a) Forensic Science Service, (b) Criminal Records Bureau and (c) UK Passport Service in 200405; and how much was paid in (i) each (A) region and (B) nation of the UK and (ii) London.

Charles Clarke: Rental payments made by Forensic Science Service, Criminal Records Bureau and UK Passport Service during financial year 200405 are given in the following table:
	
		
		
			  Forensic science service Criminal records bureau UK passport service 
		
		
			 (A) region
			 Scotland   444,792 
			 Wales   307,578 
			 Northern Ireland   163,450 
			 North West  613,017 803,987 
			 North East 26,100  1,048,986 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber
			 East Midlands
			 West Midlands 1,688,700   
			 East of England   687,388 
			 South East
			 South West
			 London 2,050,000  2,985,000 
			 Total paid 3,764,800 613,017 6,441,181 
			 
			 (B) nation
			 England 3,764,800 613,017 5,525,361 
			 Scotland   444,792 
			 Wales   307,578 
			 Northern Ireland   163,450 
			 
			 (ii) London 2,050,000  2,985,000 
		
	
	The FSS provide services to England and Wales, CRB to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and UKPS provides services to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Rental Costs

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the Prisons Service in rent for properties in 200405; and how much was paid in (a) each (i) region and (ii) nation of the UK and (b) London.

Fiona Mactaggart: Rent paid by the public sector Prison Service in England and Wales on properties in 200405 was as follows:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 West Midlands region 68,000 
			 East Midlands region 615,000 
			 East Anglia region 168,000 
			 Northern region 78,000 
			 South East region 38,000 
			 North West region 563,000 
			 South West region 1,408,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 368,000 
			 London 651,000 
			 Total England 3,957,000 
		
	
	The Prison Service does not pay rent on its London headquarters buildings, as these form part of the Home Office estate. Rent paid to other Government Departments has been excluded. Data for the South West region includes rent paid for the mooring of the floating facility Weare. The Prison Service does not rent property in Wales. Information about properties in Scotland and Northern Ireland may be obtained from the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office respectively.

Rural Police Stations

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of rural police stations in England are permanently manned.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role the Serious and Organised Crime Agency plays in countering (a) terrorism and (b) domestic extremism.

Paul Goggins: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) will have the function of preventing and detecting serious organised crime and contributing to the reduction of such crime and of the harm it causes.
	Its main priorities will be those serious organised crime threats identified by the UK threat assessment, which are trafficking in Class A drugs, organised illegal immigration, fraud, money laundering, criminal use of firearms and e-crime. SOCA will not have a direct role in countering terrorism and domestic extremism, although it may provide support to those agencies which do have responsibility for these areas.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency.

Paul Goggins: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) will not come into existence until 1 April 2006. The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 requires SOCA to produce an Annual Plan and an Annual Report.

Sex Abuse

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department (a) has had and (b) plans to have with (i) voluntary organisations and (ii) other departments on raising awareness in school age children of how to report incidents of sexual abuse.

Paul Goggins: As part of the stocktake on the Sexual Offences Act 2003, my officials have contacted a number of organisations and sought their views on the operation of the Act. Officials also hosted a number of meetings with representatives from the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and non-governmental organisations (NGO) representing people with learning difficulties and adult victims of sexual assault. The need to increase the reporting of offending was raised during these discussions. The specific issue of increasing reporting by child victims of sexual abuse has been raised during the stocktake and is something my officials will take forward with child protection NGOs and other Government Departments in the spring of this year.

Skilled Migrants

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections he has made of the number of immigrants likely to be admitted to the United Kingdom each year under the terms of his tier 2 (skilled migrants) category.

Tony McNulty: The intention in designing the new system to ensure that those who can contribute most to the UK are selected for entry and that the country takes in the people our economy needs at any one time.
	In a flexible and dynamic labour market like the UK it is impractical to forecast the number of people the UK will need. We want to design a system which is flexible enough to respond to the needs of the labour market and any changes to it. Tier two is an employer-led route, so the numbers of migrants who enter under that route will depend on how many skilled migrants employers want to sponsor, subject to ensuring where appropriate that the domestic UK and EU labour force is not displaced by migrant labour.
	Firm proposals and a plan for implementation of the new system will be published later this year in response to the consultation exercise which ran from 19 July to 7 November.

Terrorism

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested under anti-terrorist legislation in each of the last 24 months; and for what period each was held before (a) being charged and (b) being released without charge.

Hazel Blears: Statistics on arrests and charges under the Terrorism Act 2000, from 11 September 2001 until 30 September 2005 are available on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/. These are compiled from recent police records and are therefore subject to change as cases go through the system.
	The statistics you have requested are not available in the format you have requested. The following table provides information on those held for a period in excess of seven days for 2004 and 2005. The maximum period of detention pre-charge following an arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 was extended to 14 days with effect from 20 January 2004. Between that date and 4 September 2005, 357 people were arrested of whom 36 have been held for in excess of seven days. The breakdown of these cases is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 Period Number held for this period Charged Released without charge 
		
		
			 2004
			 78 days 3 1 2 
			 89 days 0   
			 910 days 11 6 5 
			 1011 days 1 0 1 
			 11 -12 days 0   
			 1213 days 0   
			 1314 days 9 9 0 
			 
			 2005
			 78 days 1 1 0 
			 89 days 0   
			 9- 10 days 5 4 1 
			 1011 days 1 1 0 
			 11 -12 days 1 1 0 
			 1213 days 2 1 1 
			 1314 days 2 2 0

Terrorism

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been held under anti-terrorism legislation since 2001; and under which Act each was held.

Hazel Blears: Detention under anti-terrorism legislation is provided for following an arrest under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The latest figures for arrests are published on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act.
	These statistics have been supplied by the police. They are compiled from recent police records and are therefore subject to adjustment as cases go through the system. These statistics reflect the operation of specific terrorism legislation. It is important to remember that it is, and will continue to be the case, that terrorist suspects are dealt with by the most appropriate legal means. This could be the legislation for murder, grievous bodily harm or the use of firearms or explosives which are all outside the scope of the Terrorism Act.
	In addition 17 people were certified under Part four of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act (ATCSA) 2001. Of these, 16 were certified and detained, and one certified but detained under other powers. Sections 2132 of the ATCSA 2001 were repealed on 11 March 2005 when the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 came into force.

Terrorism

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of interrogation has been for suspects questioned under anti-terrorism legislation in each of the last 24 months.

Hazel Blears: The maximum period of detention pre-charge following an arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 was extended to 14 days with effect from 20 January 2004. Between that date and 4 September 2005, 357 people were arrested of whom 36 have been held for in excess of seven days. The breakdown of these cases is detailed in the following table. Details of the length of time questioning took place for each of these cases is not collated centrally.
	
		
			 Period Number held for this period Charged Released without charge 
		
		
			 2004
			 78 days 3 1 2 
			 89 days 0   
			 9- 10 days 11 6 5 
			 1011 days 1 0 1 
			 11 -12 days 0   
			 121 3 days 0   
			 131 4 days 9 9 0 
			 2005
			 78 days 1 1 0 
			 89 days 0   
			 910 days 5 4 1 
			 1011 days 1 1 0 
			 11 -12 days 1 1 0 
			 1213 days 2 1 1 
			 1314 days 2 2 0

Torture

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many terrorist suspects have been deported to countries where they are at risk of torture.

Tony McNulty: None. If we believe there is a real risk that a person would face torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment if deported, to remove them would be contrary to our obligations under Article three of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
	The purpose of the Memoranda of Understanding we have negotiated, or are seeking to negotiate, is, where appropriate, to enable us to satisfy ourselves that a particular removal is consistent with our obligations under the ECHR.

Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) found guilty in (A) Essex and (B) England and Wales an offence under (1) sections 22 and 22A, (2) section 27, (3) sections 28 and 29, (4) section 30 and (5) section 41A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in 2004.

Hazel Blears: Information from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform is contained in the following table and gives the number of males and females proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of sections 22, 22A, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 41A Road Traffic Act 1988 in Essex and England and Wales, 2004.
	
		Number of males and females proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of various offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 in Essex and England and Wales, 20041
		
			   Essex 
			   Male Female 
			 Offence description Principal statute Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Leaving vehicle in a dangerous position Road Traffic Act s.22 4 4 2 2 
			   
			 Causing danger by causing anything to be on a road, interfering with a vehicle or traffic equipment Road Traffic Act S.22A as added by Road Traffic Act 1991 s.6 1
			   
			 Offences in relation to dogs under the Act Road Traffic Act s.27 
			   
			 Reckless and dangerous driving by pedal cyclist Road Traffic Act s.28 
			   
			 Careless driving by pedal cyclist Road Traffic Act s.29 6 6   
			   
			 Pedal cyclist driving under the influence of drink or drugs Road Traffic Act s.30 2 2   
			  
			 Brakes defective Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regs. 1986 Regs. 16 and 18 and sch. 3; Road Traffic  Act 1988 s.41A as added by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.8 8 7 1  
			   
			 Steering defective Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regs. 1986 Regs. 29; Road Traffic Act 1988 s.41A as added by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.8 
			   
			 Tyres defective Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regs. 1986 Regs. 2527; Road Traffic Act 1988 s.41A as added by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.8 55 39 6 5 
		
	
	
		
			   England and Wales 
			   Male Female 
			 Offence description Principal statute Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Leaving vehicle in a dangerous position Road Traffic Act s.22 103 74 18 13 
			   
			 Causing danger by causing anything to be on a road, interfering with a vehicle or traffic equipment Road Traffic Act S.22A as added by Road Traffic Act 1991 s.6 185 117 8 6 
			   
			 Offences in relation to dogs under the Act Road Traffic Act s.27 25 20 28 23 
			   
			 Reckless and dangerous driving by pedal cyclist Road Traffic Act s.28 37 32   
			   
			 Careless driving by pedal cyclist Road Traffic Act s.29 91 72 3 1 
			   
			 Pedal cyclist driving under the influence of drink or drugs Road Traffic Act s.30 44 39 1 1 
			   
			 Brakes defective Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regs. 1986 Regs. 16 and 18 and sch. 3; Road Traffic Act 1988 s.41A as added by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.8 622 432 351 19 
			   
			 Steering defective Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regs. 1986 Regs. 29; Road Traffic Act 1988 s.41A as added by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.8 52 38 2  
			   
			 Tyres defective Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regs. 1986 Regs. 2527; Road Traffic Act 1988 s.41A as added by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.8 5,850 3,839 534 348 
		
	
	(85) These data are on the principal offence basis

UK Citizenship

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with convictions for indictable offences were granted UK citizenship in the last year for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: This information is not separately recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Under-age Drinking

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place for under-age drinking in (a) Ruislip-Northwood constituency and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon in each year since 1990.

Hazel Blears: Under-age drinking is covered by a number of offences on the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. Information on these offences is provided in the following table, which gives the number of defendants aged 1017 years who were proceeded against at Hillingdon petty sessional area , for selected offences related to alcohol. It is not possible to identify those prosecutions for the Ruislip-Northwood constituency as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	Statistics for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants aged 1017 years proceeded against at Hillingdon petty sessional area for offences relating to under-aged drinking, 1990 to 2004(86)
		
			  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place(87) Being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour(88) Drunk in, or when entering a designated sports event(89) Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor in licensed premises(90) 
		
		
			 1990  2   
			 1991  6   
			 1992 1 1   
			 1993 
			 1994  4   
			 1995  3   
			 1996 
			 1997 
			 1998  4   
			 1999  2   
			 2000 1 6   
			 2001  7   
			 2002  9   
			 2003  5   
			 2004  8   
		
	
	(86) These data are provided on the principal offence basis
	(87) S.12 Licensing Act 1872
	(88) S.91 Criminal Justice Act 1967
	(89) S.2(2) Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985
	(90) S.169C(1) and E(1) Licensing Act 1964; Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 S.3 Sch para 4(2)

Under-age Tobacco Sales

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for under-age tobacco sales there have been in each year since 1997; and how many convictions resulted from these prosecutions.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information taken from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of prosecutions and convictions for the sale of tobacco etc. to persons under 16 under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 S.7 as amended by Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 S.1, England and Wales 19972004 is provided in the following table.
	Court statistics for 2005 will be available autumn 2006.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates' courts and found guilty for the sale of tobacco to persons under-age, England and Wales, 19972004(91)
		
			 Offence: Sale of tobacco etc. to persons under 16 
			 Statute: Children and Young Persons Act 1933 S.7 as amended by Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 S.1 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 1997 130 112 
			 1998 166 129 
			 1999 127 102 
			 2000 161 134 
			 2001 117 90 
			 2002 99 78 
			 2003 117 93 
			 2004 73 57 
		
	
	(91) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Visas

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information has been passed to the UK Government under the Schengen visa information system about the number of Schengen visas that have been (a) refused and (b) revoked.

Andy Burnham: The visa information system (VIS) will be a database that assists in the issuing of Schengen short stay visas. It is unlikely to be operational until 2007 and therefore no information from the VIS has been passed to the UK to date.
	The UK, as do other member states, has access to information on Schengen visa applications including the number of visas issued and refused by member states.

Work Permits

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of work permit applications were refused in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The number of applications that were refused in the last 12 months (January 2005 to December 2005) was 20,856 which was 12 per cent. of the total work permit applications decided.

Work Permits

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for work permits that were originally refused were subsequently granted after being resubmitted through a recognised agency in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: Work permit applications can be submitted by an employer or their representative. The only information available relates to applications granted following a request for review of an initial refusal. There were 475 such applications granted on review in the last 12 months (January 2005 to December 2005).

Work Permits

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to prevent abuse of the work permits scheme.

Tony McNulty: Work Permits (UK) caseworkers carry out a risk assessment when the application is submitted. They can request further checks of an employer before a work permit is issued. Further checks, either random or intelligence-driven, can follow the issue of the work permit. These checks can result in revocation of permits, refusal of existing permit applications by the employers in question and the curtailment of leave of those who have permits with the company. Where they believe that a work permit is forged or has been obtained using deception, Immigration Officers and Entry Clearance Officers can refuse entry.
	On 27 April 2004, the Prime Minister announced a top-to-bottom review of managed migration routes, to assess the extent to which they were open to abuse or otherwise open to improvement. This has included an ongoing review of the work permit arrangements.
	The Government have recently undertaken a consultation exercise on proposals to replace existing migration routes for work and study, including the work permit system, with a new points-based system. One of the objectives in introducing the new system is to ensure that it is robust against abuse. The Government's response to the consultation document will be published in due course.

Worker Registration Scheme

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of workers from the EU accession states who have not registered under the Worker Registrations Scheme and are working in the UK.

Tony McNulty: Responsibility for registering on the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) lies with the individual worker from the EU Accession state, although their employer also has some responsibility to ensure that they have registered.
	As nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Accession state workers are not subject to immigration control on arrival in the UK and do not therefore require a visa or entry clearance. As is the case with all EEA nationals they have a right of free movement and residence dependent on their activity in the United Kingdom. Registration on the WRS is not a condition for entry, but a requirement for nationals from Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to be lawfully employed in a job if it continues for more than 30 days. There are therefore no figures or estimates available as to the numbers of accession nationals who have entered the United Kingdom and are working without registration.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees at the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre on 1 January had been detained for (a) less than one month, (b) between one and three months, (c) between three and six months, (d) between six and 12 months and (e) over 12 months.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office publishes a quarterly snapshot of people detained under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. The latest published information pertains to people detained as at the 24 September 2005.
	On 24 September 2005 there were 245 persons recorded as being held in the Immigration Removal Centre at Yarl's Wood. This figure is rounded to the nearest five, in accordance with National Statistics protocols. The following table gives the breakdown of this figure by the length of detention.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available on the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website http://wwwhomeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The next quarterly snapshot is for 31 December 2005 and will be published at the end of February 2006.
	
		Persons recorded as being held in the Immigration Service Removal Centre Yarl's Wood, in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers as at 24 September 2005, by length of detention(92)
		
			 Length of detention(93)(5508620094) Number of individuals 
		
		
			 14 days or less 120 
			 15 to 29 days 45 
			 1 month to less than 2 months 35 
			 2 months to less than 3 months 15 
			 3 months to less than 4 months 15 
			 4 months to less than 6 months 15 
			 6 months to less than 1 year 5 
			 1 year or more 5 
			 Total 245 
		
	
	(92) Figures rounded to the nearest 5; with * = 1 or 2, may not sum due to rounding and exclude persons detained in police cells and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers.
	(93) Relates to current period of detention only.
	(94) 2 months is defined as 61 days; 4 months is defined as 122 days; 6 months is defined as 182 days.

Young Offenders

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) support services and (b) training are in place to help children of school age who have been convicted of a crime in (i) Ruislip-Northwood constituency, (ii) the London borough of Hillingdon, (iii) Greater London and (iv) England.

Fiona Mactaggart: Young people under 18 convicted of an offence throughout England and Wales, will, unless the court deems it unnecessary, receive a disposal which requires an active intervention from the Youth Offending Team. Depending on the young person's circumstances, the intervention will be designed to challenge those attitudes held by the young person which appear to have contributed to their offending behaviour, and incorporate a restorative justice element, where appropriate, either to the victim or the community at large. In addition, all youth offending teams have a target to ensure that 90 per cent. of young persons under their supervision are in full-time appropriate education training or employment by the end of their sentence, recognising the key role that this can play in reducing the risk of re-offending.

Young Offenders

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were committed by young people aged under (a) 21, (b) 18, (c) 16, (d) 15, (e) 14, (f) 13, (g) 12, (h) 11 and (i) 10 years in each year since 198081; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is not possible to identify the age of the offender in the 'notifiable' offences data series.

TREASURY

Alcohol-related Deaths

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many alcohol-related deaths there have been in each year since 1997, (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) sex and (ii) socio-economic group.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many alcohol-related deaths there have been in each year since 1997, in total and broken down by (a)sex and (b) socio-economic group. (41959)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. The table below shows the number of deaths by sex and socio-economic group which were certified as due to alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use from 1997 to 2004.
	In 2001, National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS SEC) replaced Social Class based on Occupation (SC) for coding socio-economic status. For this reason, figures for years prior to 2001 are not comparable to figures for subsequent years. Information on the deceased's own occupation is only requested at death registration for those aged between 16 and 74. The table below shows deaths at these ages by Social Class for the years 1997 to 2000 and by NS-SEC for the years 2001 to 2004.
	
		Number of deaths in persons aged between 16 and 74 from alcohol-related causes(95), by (a) sex, and (b) socio-economic classification, England and Wales, 1997 to 2004(96)
		
			  Men Women 
			 Social class 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 I. Professional 112 117 129 131 5 10 9 10 
			 II. Intermediate 529 540 607 584 221 240 249 282 
			 III. (nm) Skilled, non-manual 215 229 233 258 251 215 263 260 
			 III. (m) Skilled, manual 837 908 963 947 61 60 81 86 
			 IV. Partly skilled 484 500 524 527 129 140 175 174 
			 V. Unskilled 302 327 311 337 67 68 80 57 
			 Other(97) 295 374 360 436 781 893 863 898 
			 Total deaths 2,774 2,995 3,127 3,220 1,515 1,626 1,720 1,767 
		
	
	
		
			  Men Women 
			 NS SEC 2001 2002 2003 2004 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 1. Managerial and professional occupations 701 724 798 765 261 213 262 281 
			 2. Intermediate occupations 173 193 219 221 190 185 171 224 
			 3. Small employers and own account workers 380 469 509 478 58 69 60 66 
			 4. Lower supervisory and technical 484 439 502 507 53 60 59 59 
			 5. Semi-routine and routine 1,218 1,156 1,396 1,314 378 376 419 426 
			 Other(98) 477 460 510 563 866 946 968 964 
			 Total deaths 2,774 2,995 3,127 3,220 1,515 1,626 1,720 1,767 
		
	
	(95)For the years 19972000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes selected to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:
	291Alcoholic psychoses
	303Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 20012004 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were selected:
	F10Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70Alcoholic liver disease
	K73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 514.
	Deaths were extracted using the original underlying cause of death.
	(96)Data are for occurrences of death in each calendar year.
	(97)Includes armed forces, inadequately described occupations, full time care/dependent relative, housewife/house husband, full time student, independent means, and sick.
	(98)Includes never worked, long-term unemployed and not classified.

Arm's Length Management Organisations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on his targets for the public sector borrowing requirement of the additional funds made available to arm's length management organisations to improve council homes.

John Healey: Funding of arm's length management organisations is from within the department expenditure limits set for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and does not represent additional expenditure. As a result there is no impact on public sector net borrowing.

Common Agricultural Policy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the planned level of expenditure on the common agricultural policy is for each of the next 10 years; and how much and what percentage each member state will contribute of the total.

John Healey: The EU budget agreed by the European Council on 17 December for the period 200713 will be 863 billion (in 2004 prices) on a commitments basis. The following amounts will be allocated to agriculture, including rural development (Heading 2).
	
		
			   billion, 2004 prices 
		
		
			 2007 55.0 
			 2008 54.3 
			 2009 53.7 
			 2010 53.0 
			 2011 52.4 
			 2012 51.8 
			 2013 51.1 
		
	
	Equivalent expenditure in 2006 is estimated at 55.5 billion in 2004 prices. Member states do not contribute to individual programmes within the EC budget. The UK's post abatement financing share for the EC budget as a whole was estimated at 11.97 per cent. in 2005.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster General will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 31 October 2005, PO reference: 4/23543/2005.

Dawn Primarolo: The Paymaster General has already done so.

Council Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of council tax as a percentage of gross income in each (a) decile and (b) quintile (i)before and (ii) after council tax benefit.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to asking what the latest estimate is of council tax as a percentage of gross income in each (a) decile and (b) quintile (i) before and (ii) after council tax benefit. (41574)
	Estimates for taxes and benefits are based on the Office for National Statistics analyses 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income' and the latest analysis for 200304 was published on the National Statistics website on 7th July 2005 at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. The analysis includes measures of income inequality for households in the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. This is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households in the UK. The analysis for 200405 is due to be published on the National Statistics website in April 2006.
	The following tables show estimates of council tax as a percentage of gross income for each income decile and quintile where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. Council tax figures are shown both before and after the deduction of council tax benefit. Each table also shows the equivalised disposable income boundaries which separate deciles and quintiles.
	
		Council tax as a percentage of gross income by equivalised disposable income decile, 200304 Great Britain
		
			   Council tax as percentage of gross income 
			 Decile Income boundary(99) ( per year) before council tax benefit after council tax benefit 
		
		
			 Bottom  9.7 5.9 
			  9,368   
			 2nd  6.7 4.3 
			  11,690   
			 3rd  5.3 3.8 
			  13,767   
			 4th  4.4 3.7 
			  16,006   
			 5th  3.6 3.2 
			  18,519   
			 6th  3.2 3.0 
			  21,291   
			 7th  2.9 2.7 
			  24,565   
			 8th  2.5 2.4 
			  29,677   
			 9th  2.2 2.2 
			  38,509   
			 Top  1.4 1.4 
			 
			 Average for all households 2.9 2.5 
		
	
	(99)Boundary point between equivalised disposable income deciles.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends.
	
		Council tax as a percentage of gross income by equivalised disposable income quintile, 200304, Great Britain
		
			   Council tax as percentage of gross income 
			 Decile Income boundary(100) ( per year) before council tax benefit after council tax benefit 
		
		
			 Bottom  7.9 5.0 
			  11,690   
			 2nd  4.8 3.7 
			  16,006   
			 3rd  3.4 3.1 
			  21,291   
			 4th  2.6 2.6 
			  29,677   
			 Top  1.7 1.7 
			 
			 Average for all households 2.9 2.5 
		
	
	(100)Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends.

Departmental Equipment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) laptops and (b) mobile phones his Department bought in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each category of equipment was in each year.

John Healey: The number of laptops bought in 2005 was 115 and their cost was 108,350. Details for 19972004 can be found in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (LynneFeatherstone) on 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 339W.
	Figures for mobile phones are not available, as current Treasury records do not separate mobiles from other telecoms costs.

Departmental Estate

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) land and (b) property his Department owns in the Southend West constituency.

John Healey: The Treasury owns no land or property in the Southend West constituency.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

John Healey: I refer to the answers I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar) on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 302W, and to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 24 February 2005, Official Report, column 761W.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by his Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

John Healey: Since financial year 19992000, departments' annual resource accounts, which are available from the Library of the House, have disclosed the staff costs of civil servants. The Treasury's resource accounts for the years 200102 onwards are also available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/resourceaccounts/resourceaccounts_index.cfm.

Departmental IT Systems

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the outturn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion was of each system.

John Healey: The information requested is set out as follows.
	
		
			 Overrun (000 and months) 
			   Reference Delivery (past and imminent)   System/purpose  Project cost 000  Running costs 000years   Cost   Time 
		
		
			 1 Pre-1997 PANAGONDocument management system  50x9   
			 2 Pre-1997 MINCOMManagement of Ministerial correspondence PQ systemManagement of Parliamentary Questions ImpresManagement of paper files  25x9   
			 3 Pre-1997 GSIGovernment Secure Intranet  114x9   
			 4 1997 to 2005 Server and PCs technical refresh (34 year). [Current cost hardware and maintenance contract shown.]  250x9   
			 5 1998 Replacement of Treasury Financial Information System (FIS)monitoring of departmental expenditure 559
			 6 1999 PS/ENTERPRISEReplacement of central HR/personnel system for HMT. 337 25x7  1 
			 7 2000 Provision of a search engine to enhance the document management repository, internet and Intranet in HMT. 600 12.5x5 350  
			 8 2001 ABACUSReplacement of Treasury's domestic accounting system 900 250x4   
			 9 2001 Implementation of the GOLD system for the Consolidation of Central Government Accounts. 622 13x4   
			 10 2001 Redevelopment of Treasury's public web site, including provision of a CMScontent management system 250 80x4   
			 11 2001 Provision of IT services in support of HMT Business Continuity Plan (BCP). 1,455
			   Services:  191.2x4   
			   Colt link to HMT35k 
			   GSI connection123k 
			   Reuters6.3k 
			   Data Circuit6.1k 
			   Telecom lines18.5k 
			   Hardware maint.2.3k 
			 12 2001 Updating the Treasury's desktop to incorporate MS Windows and Office 2000 products (includes: Oasis Build 6 implementation 1,111; MS Windows based servers (moved from Netware), File and Print servers, MS Exchange 5.5 servers). 2,500
			 13 2002 Move and provision of new IT facilities in new HMT building, 1 Horse Guards Road. 1,717
			 14 2002 Conversion of HMT PCs from Token Ring networking to Ethernet working. 260 - - - 
			 15 2002 Improvements to the capacity, reliability, performance and ease-of-use of secure remote working facilities in HMT. 500
			 16 2005 COINSIntegration of three Government financial data systems to form a Single Data System (SDS). [Scope increased significantly and timetable adjusted]. 4,560 104 2,160 24 
			 17 2005 JIGSAWEnhancing Electronic Document and Records Management system (EDRMS). [Re-scoped and timetable lengthened]. 2,166 86 366 6 
			 18 2005 Replacement of the computer system 'TACSYS' which supports the operational accounting and cashflow forecasting work of the Treasury Exchequer Funds and Accounts team 'TRiP' [October 2002 budgeted at 1.1 million, soon thereafter, the project was stopped because of the opportunity to implement a cheaper solution and provide an opportunity to review the complex requirements.] 1,100 100x7 280 24 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Maintenance is quoted at current rates.
	2.The costs shown for each of the IT systems cover externally-provided hardware, software and implementation costs and may, in addition, cover other costs such as training where this will be part of the initial contract to be placed with the external contractor. The costs of in-house development are not included.
	3.IT systems with estimated or actual costs of over 100,000 or with running costs of over 20,000 p.a. are included in the table, as information on smaller systems has not been centrally held throughout this period, and so complete information is not readily available.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish, as an annex to his annual report, a list of all publications by his Department in the preceding year; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: There are no plans to publish a list of publications in the departmental report. However, all major Treasury publications can be found on the websites of the Treasury Group (website addresses:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk www.dmo.gov.uk www.ogc.gov.uk)

Diabetes

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths there have been from diabetes in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths there have been from diabetes in each year since 1997. (42020)
	The latest year for which data are available is 2004. Figures for deaths where diabetes was the underlying cause of death and where diabetes was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor are shown in the table below for each year from 1997 to 2004.
	
		Number of deaths from diabetes(101), England and Wales,1997 to 2004(102)
		
			  Calendar year  Underlying cause Mentioned on death certificate 
		
		
			 1997 5,890 23,832 
			 1998 5,938 24,116 
			 1999 5,963 24,338 
			 2000 5,773 24,193 
			 2001 (103)6,119 25,002 
			 2002 (103)6,192 25,929 
			 2003 (103)6,316 27,027 
			 2004 (103)5,837 26,638 
		
	
	(101)The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-I0) for 200I onwards. The codes used are listed below:
	Diabetes mellitusICD-9 250; ICD-10 EI0-EI4.
	(102)Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(103)The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 means that data for diabetes as the underlying cause of death are not completely comparable with data for years before this date. The data should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Earnings

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the UK work force earned the (a) minimum wage, (b) less than 5.50 per hour, (c) less than 5.75 per hour, (d) less than 6.00 per hour, (e) less than 6.50 per hour, (f) less than 7.00 per hour and (g) less than 10 per hour in each year since 199798, broken down by region.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what proportion of the UK workforce earned the (a) minimum wage, (b) less than 5.50 per hour (c) less than 5.75 per hour, (d) less than 6.00 per hour, (e)less than 6.50 per hour, (f) less than 7.00 per hour and (g)less than 10 per hour in each year since 19971998, broken down by region. (41290)
	Currently average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I am placing a table in the House of Commons Library showing the proportion of the UK workforce with Average Gross Hourly Earnings by place of work from 1998 to 2005 below the stated hourly rates. Estimates of the proportion of the UK workforce earning at the Minimum Wage are not calculated, however proportions earning below this level have been given. The Minimum Wage was introduced from October 1998 so figures prior to April 1999 are not available.
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.

Electoral Registration

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequerwhat percentage of the population is registered to vote in each ward of each constituency in (a) Essex, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) Greater London in descending order of numbers registered for each constituency.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the population registered to vote in each ward of each constituency in (a) Essex, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) Greater London in descending order of numbers registered for each constituency. (42330)
	The attached Table 1 gives a comparison between the number of registered electors and the estimated population for wards in each parliamentary constituency in Essex, Hertfordshire and Greater London. Ward figures for the Unitary Authority areas formerly in Essex (Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) and Hertfordshire (Luton) are included. Because of the length of the table it has been provided in electronic format and will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	It should be borne in mind that the percentage of the resident population who are registered to vote does not provide a reliable estimate of the registration rate of the eligible population. This is mainly because there are definitional differences between usually resident and eligibility to vote and therefore the estimated resident population aged 18 and over is not the same as the number of people eligible to vote. For example, the resident population includes all those who usually live in an area irrespective of nationality whereas the parliamentary electorate excludes foreign nationals (but Commonwealth and Irish citizens are included) and may include some overseas electors who do not currently live in the area. Further, there is inevitably some double counting of the registered electorate and this can occur for a number of reasons. People who have more than one address, including students, may register in more than one place. Electoral registration officers may vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or after they have died.
	The closest available geography to current electoral wards, for which population estimates are available, is Census Area Statistics (CAS) wards. This geography was created for outputs from the 2001 Census and is based mainly on 2003 electoral wards. The electorate counts are on current ward boundaries and it has been necessary to convert these to the CAS ward geography.
	The latest population data available at ward level are for mid-2002, published in April 2005. The ward electorate counts are for December 2002 parliamentary electors, including attainers. The parliamentary electorate has been used rather than the local government electorate even though the latter is definitionally closer to the resident population because the local government electorate is not available at ward level. No adjustment has been made to reflect the difference between these two time points. There are a number of wards that are split by parliamentary constituency i.e. they fall within two or more parliamentary constituencies. These are shown by an asterisk * alongside their ward name, and appear under both constituencies. Electorate and population figures for the whole ward are shown. Some wards will therefore be double counted. It is not possible to split the data for these wards.
	The population data are estimates and as such are subject to a margin of confidence. This margin of confidence is proportionately larger for ward level estimates than for local authority level estimates. The CAS ward level population estimates have been published with the status of experimental statistics. Therefore, the estimates, and figures derived from them, should be treated with some care.
	There are a relatively small number of wards (28) where the electorate counts are more than 5 per cent. greater than the population estimate. These cases are attributable to definitional differences between the estimates and electoral counts, the margin of confidence in the ward estimates, the accuracy of the electoral registers and limitations in the methodology used to convert electoral counts to the CAS ward geography.

Electors (London)

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many electors of all categories there are in each London borough according to the electoral registers now in force; and how many there were in the previous year;
	(2)  what proportion of registered electors are (a) male and (b) female in each London borough according to the electoral registers now in force.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding (1) the number of electors in each London borough according to the electoral registers now in force, and how many there were in the previous year and (2) what proportion of these currently registered electors are (a) male and (b) female (41606  41608).
	The latest available electoral counts are for 1 December 2004. Therefore, the attached table provides data for each London borough (and the City of London) for 1 December 2004 and 1 December 2003. Figures are given for both the parliamentary electorate and the local/European electorate. Electoral counts for 1 December 2005 will be published on 23 February 2006 and will be available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=319Pos= ColRank=lRank=272
	Data on sex is not collected on electoral returns. Therefore, I am unable to provide what proportion of registered electors are male and female.
	
		Electoral registers, 1 December 2003 and 2004, Local Government and Parliamentary Electors
		
			  Local Government Electors(104) Parliamentary Electors (105) 
			  Total electors December: 
			  2003 2004 2003 2004 
		
		
			 London 5,143,392 5,237,019 4,968,004 5,021,532 
			 City of London 6,029 6,018 5,982 5,688 
			 Barking and Dagenham 117,350 119,372 116,757 117,621 
			 Barnet 227,972 214,421 220,511 206,471 
			 Bexley 170,928 171,904 169,874 170,549 
			 Brent 164,202 180,665 157,224 170,466 
			 Bromley 228,536 228,983 225,815 225,600 
			 Camden 142,309 144,326 131,401 133,026 
			 Croydon 242,216 246,866 238,123 241,935 
			 Ealing 213,235 215,814 205,769 204,211 
			 Enfield 192,028 194,611 187,072 188,593 
			 Greenwich 157,189 160,176 153,601 155,168 
			 Hackney 125,207 129,274 120,433 122,411 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 112,387 116,144 104,136 105,829 
			 Haringey 151,281 152,486 142,631 143,046 
			 Harrow 159,296 162,049 156,595 158,330 
			 Havering 174,165 175,668 173,496 174,742 
			 Hillingdon 182,696 181,145 179,621 177,327 
			 Hounslow 141,925 165,583 137,761 159,909 
			 Islington 124,438 120,297 117,722 113,432 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 99,745 98,629 85,262 84,052 
			 Kingston upon Thames 98,378 99,014 95,667 95,740 
			 Lambeth 199,117 203,055 187,628 190,081 
			 Lewisham 169,483 177,731 165,335 172,133 
			 Merton 134,008 135,678 129,809 129,551 
			 Newham 167,798 171,815 163,235 164,165 
			 Redbridge 177,473 181,192 175,550 178,905 
			 Richmond upon Thames 121,132 120,146 117,025 115,632 
			 Southwark 170,454 180,173 164,092 172,547 
			 Sutton 131,872 131,315 130,101 129,270 
			 Tower Hamlets 142,570 145,444 137,874 140,302 
			 Waltham Forest 157,947 159,399 154,366 153,870 
			 Wandsworth 208,271 211,816 199,565 200,573 
			 Westminster 131,755 135,810 117,971 120,357 
		
	
	(104)Local government electors are those people who are entitled to vote in local elections and who meet the residence qualification. These include Peers and European Union citizens but exclude overseas voters.
	(105)Parliamentary electors are those people who are entitled to vote in parliamentary elections at Westminster and who meet the residence qualification. These include overseas voters but exclude Peers and European citizens.
	Source :
	Office for National Statistics

Electors (London)

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of registered electors are EU nationals who are not UK or Republic of Ireland nationals in each London borough according to the electoral registers now in force.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what proportion of registered electors are EU nationals, who are not UK and Republic of Ireland nationals, in each London borough, according to the electoral registers now in force. (41607)
	The attached table provides figures for 1 December 2004 on the proportion of registered electors who are EU citizens but not British or Irish citizens in each London borough (and the City of London). These figures are the latest available data. Electoral counts for 1 December 2005 will be published on 23 February 2006 and will be available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=319iPos= ColRank=lRank=272
	
		Total European/Local Government Electorate and Electorate Entitled to Vote through European Union Citizenship, December 2004
		
			 London borough Electorate Qualifying through European Union Citizenship(106)(5508620107) Total European/Local Government Electorate Percentage of European/Local Electorate Qualifying through EU Citizenship 
		
		
			 City of London 333 6,018 5.5 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,756 119,372 1.5 
			 Barnet 8,004 214,421 3.7 
			 Bexley 1,369 171,904 0.8 
			 Brent 10,252 180,665 5.7 
			 Bromley 3,458 228,983 1.5 
			 Camden 11,378 144,326 7.9 
			 Croydon 5,010 246,866 2.0 
			 Ealing 11,685 215,814 5.4 
			 Enfield 6,048 194,611 3.1 
			 Greenwich 5,055 160,176 3.2 
			 Hackney 6,904 129,274 5.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 10,460 116,144 9.0 
			 Haringey 9,495 152,486 6.2 
			 Harrow 3,739 162,049 2.3 
			 Havering 947 175,668 0.5 
			 Hillingdon 3,852 181,145 2.1 
			 Hounslow 5,759 165,583 3.5 
			 Islington 6,904 120,297 5.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 14,608 98,629 14.8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,340 99,014 3.4 
			 Lambeth 13,016 203,055 6.4 
			 Lewisham 5,650 177,731 3.2 
			 Merton 6,184 135,678 4.6 
			 Newham 7,651 171,815 4.5 
			 Redbridge 2,319 181,192 1.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,614 120,146 3.8 
			 Southwark 7,664 180,173 4.3 
			 Sutton 2,069 131,315 1.6 
			 Tower Hamlets 5,180 145,444 3.6 
			 Waltham Forest 5,547 159,399 3.5 
			 Wandsworth 11,378 211,816 5.4 
			 Westminster 15,402 135,810 11.3 
		
	
	(106)These data are as reported by each London borough to ONS.
	(107)Excludes British and Irish citizens, and also Maltese and Cypriot citizens who qualify as Commonwealth citizens.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Employment (Beverley and Holderness)

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of all those in employment were employed by the (a) public and (b) private sectors in Beverley and Holderness in each year since 1996;
	(2)  what the (a) actual and (b) percentage annual changes in job levels for the (i) private and (ii) public sectors were in Beverley and Holderness in each of the last five calendar years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about private and public sector employment. (41367  41368)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for the United Kingdom of public sector employment from a quarterly survey of public sector organisations. However, estimates at local area level are not available.
	Information at local area level is available from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) of individual people in households. However, in this source, the categorization of employment in the public or private sector depends upon the responses from the individuals interviewed. As reported by ONS in October 2005 in the publication Public Sector Employment Trends, some individuals tend to misreport private sector employment as being in the public sector hence leading to overestimates of the share of public sector employment.
	With this reservation about the data quality, the attached table shows the proportions of public and private sector employment in the Beverley and Holderness constituency shown by the annual local area LFS for the 12 month periods ending February 1997 to February 2004.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	
		Persons in employment resident in the Beverley and Holderness constituency by private-public sector split(108)
		
			  Proportions (Percentage) Levels (Thousand) Changes in private sector Changes in public sector 
			 12 months ending: Private sector Public sector Private sector Public sector Thousand Percentage(109) Thousand Percentage(109) 
		
		
			 February 1997 (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) 
			 February 1998 (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) (110) 
			 February 1999 72 28 24 9 (110) (110) (110) (110) 
			 February 2000 75 25 26 9 2 7 -1 -8 
			 February 2001 73 27 26 10 0 0 1 12 
			 February 2002 74 26 28 10 2 9 0 2 
			 February 2003 73 27 30 11 2 7 1 14 
			 February 2004 73 27 31 12 1 2 0 3 
		
	
	(108) Public/private sector split based on responses from individuals responding to the annual local area Labour Force Survey generally overestimate public sector employment.
	(109) Percentage changes are based on exact levels for each year and then rounded. They will not correspond to percentage changes based on rounded levels
	(110) Not available.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey.

Environmental Projects

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what percentage of environmental taxes went to funding environmental projects in 200405.

John Healey: Environmental taxes are not directly hypothecated to environmental spending. Consistent with the principle of shifting the burden of tax from 'goods' to 'bads', environmental taxes such as the Climate Change Levy and Aggregates Levy were introduced with corresponding reductions in employers' national insurance contributions.

External Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has paid since 2004 to external consultants who had previously been employed by the Department in any capacity within the previous five years.

John Healey: The Treasury made payments totalling 99,561 in the calendar year 2005 to four consultants who are known to be former employees of the department. A central record is not maintained of consultants who are former employees, so this is not necessarily a comprehensive total.

Family Size

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families there are with (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children, (d) four children, (e) five children, (f) six to 10 children and (g) more than 10 children.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many UK families there are with (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children, (d) four children, (e) five children, (f) six to 10 children and (g) more than 10 children. (41392)
	Estimates of the numbers of families in the United Kingdom in 2004 by the number of dependent children in the family are shown in the table below. These estimates are based on a sample survey and it is not possible using this source to provide figures for six to ten and more than ten children in a family due to the insufficiently large sample size of these categories.
	
		Number of families by family size (counting dependent children(111) only), 2004, United Kingdom -- Thousands
		
			 Number of dependent children(111) Number of families 
		
		
			 1 3,211 
			 2 3,009 
			 3 865 
			 4 210 
			 5 44 
			 6 or more 17 
			 Total 7,356 
		
	
	Source:
	2004 Labour Force Survey (United Kingdom)
	(111) Dependent children are those aged under 16 or aged 16 to 18 who are never-married and in full-time education.

Gross Domestic Product

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the UK gross domestic product was produced in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on the percentage of UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) produced in the English regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland since 1997. (42407)
	The attached table shows the proportion of Gross Value Added (GVA) for each region and country of the UK. The estimates are derived from the levels of regional GVA, which were published by the ONS in December 2005 and which are available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Productasp?vlnk=7359
	Gross Value Added is equal to Gross Domestic Product at market prices adjusted for taxes less subsidies on products. The figures in the table exclude that part of UK economic activity which cannot be allocated to a region
	
		Regional gross value added as a percentage of UK total
		
			 Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 North East 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 North West 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 
			 East Midlands 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 7 
			 West Midlands 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 
			 East 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 
			 London 18 18 19 19 19 19 19 18 
			 South East 14 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 
			 South West 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 
			 England 85 85 86 86 86 86 86 86 
			 Wales 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Scotland 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 
			 Northern Ireland 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Illegal Fuel Smuggling

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Revenue and Customs staff in Northern Ireland have been involved during 2005 in operations aimed at disrupting the smuggling of illegal fuel into the UK.

John Healey: In 200405 159 members of staff in Northern Ireland were involved in operations aimed at disrupting the smuggling of illegal fuel into the UK. These officers were deployed across Customs and Excise including Intelligence, Criminal Investigation, Assurance and Detection activity.

Landfill

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been generated from (a) the landfill tax and (b) landfill sites within the London borough of Hillingdon in each year since 1997.

John Healey: Information on revenue from landfill tax can be found in the HM Revenue and Customs 'Landfill Tax Bulletin', which can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website: http://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=landfill.
	A breakdown of landfill tax by borough is not available.

Leaked Letter

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence the Prime Minister's Office has given to his Department's inquiry into the leaking of a letter from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Lord Turner in November 2005; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 543W.

Lone Parents

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of lone parents were in employment (a) in total, (b) where the youngest child is under 11 years and (c) where the youngest child is between 11 and 18 years in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the employment rate of lone parent families in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about lone parents in employment. (41293, 41220)
	The attached table gives the levels and proportion of the number of lone parents who were in employment (a) in total, (b) where the youngest child is under 11 years and (c) between 11 and 18 years, also the lone parent employment rate, for the three months ending May 2005.
	Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics's Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		Number of lone parents(112) with dependent children in employmentUnited Kingdomthree months ending May 2005
		
			  Number of lone parents (thousand) 
			 Total Total In employment Lone parent employment rate (percentage)(113)(5508620114) 
		
		
			 Total 1,881 1,043 55.8 
			 of which:
			 Age of youngest child under 11 years 1,192 571 48.2 
			 Age of youngest child between11 and 18 years 689 472 69.0 
		
	
	(112) Refer to people who are not married or cohabiting and have dependent children, who are defined as 0 to 15 year olds, or 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education
	(113) Includes lone parents aged under 16 who have been excluded from the employment rates.
	(114) People in employment as a percentage of all persons.
	Source:
	ONSLabour Force Survey

Lung Cancer (Doncaster and Barnsley)

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Doncaster and (b) Barnsley were diagnosed with lung cancer in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many people in (a) Doncaster and (b) Barnsley were diagnosed with lung cancer in each of the last 10 years. (42117)
	The most recent available information on registration of newly diagnosed cases (incidence) are for the year 2003. Numbers of newly diagnosed cases registered in the county districts of Doncaster and Barnsley, are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of lung(115) cancer registered in the county districts of Doncaster and Barnsley, 19942003
		
			  Doncaster Barnsley 
		
		
			 1994 241 198 
			 1995 268 190 
			 1996 235 184 
			 1997 232 196 
			 1998 242 208 
			 1999 237 172 
			 2000 260 204 
			 2001 237 181 
			 2002 271 169 
			 2003 258 182 
		
	
	(115) For 1994, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 162; from 1995 to 2003, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C33-C34.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

New Jobs (Wales)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in Wales in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about jobs in Wales. (42389)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs from year to year.
	The attached table shows the information requested, relating to net change in jobs in Wales from June 1997 to June 2005; the latest period for which information is available.
	These estimates are from the Workforce Jobs series and, as with any sample survey, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		Net change in Workforce Jobs in Wales; June 1997 to June 2004; not seasonally adjusted
		
			 Thousand 
			  Number of Workforce Jobs Net change 
		
		
			 1997 1,196  
			 1998 1,205 9 
			 1999 1,219 14 
			 2000 1,248 28 
			 2001 1,243 -5 
			 2002 1,265 21 
			 2003 1,289 24 
			 2004 1,279 -9 
			 2005 1,283 3 
		
	
	Source:
	Workforce Jobs series

Older Workers

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 50 to 54, (ii) 55 to 59 and (iii) 60 to 64 years have been (A) in full-time work, (B) in part-time work, (C) in early retirement and (D) on out-of-work benefits in each of the last 20 years broken down by benefit.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the numbers and proportions of men and women in specific age categories who are in full and part-time employment or have taken early retirement, also those who are on out of work by benefits for the last twenty years. (40481)
	I am placing the information requested in the House of Commons Library.
	Table 1 shows the numbers and proportions of people who are in full and part-time work and those who have taken early retirement for the three month period ending in May each year from 1984 to 2005. These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any sample survey, subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	Table 2a shows people claiming out of work benefits for the period ending in May each year from 1995 to 2005. This information is from the Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). Table 2b shows proportions where the number claiming benefits represents the estimated population in each age group.

Pensioners (Cause of Death)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in whose deaths cold or malnutrition have been cited as the primary cause in each of the last 10 years, broken down by county and London borough.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of pensioners in whose deaths cold or malnutrition have been cited as the primary cause in each of the last 10 years, broken down by county and London borough. (41694)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004.
	Most routine mortality statistics are based on a single cause for each death, the underlying cause of death which is defined by the World Health Organisation as:
	(a) the disease which initiated the train of events directly leading to death; or
	(b) the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury.
	Using this definition cold can never be an underlying cause of death. However subnormal body temperature, hypothermia, may be mentioned on the death certificate. Tables of deaths with any mention of hypothermia by county and London borough were placed in the library of the House of Commons, (Official Report Number 91, column 547).
	In response to this parliamentary question ONS also placed in the library of the House of Commons tables of deaths from malnutrition, where this was defined as deaths with any mention of malnutrition or deprivation of food.
	Deprivation of food can never be the underlying cause of death using the WHO definition. Numbers of deaths where malnutrition was the underlying cause of death have been extracted for deaths registered in each year from 1995 to 2004. As retirement age differs for males and females, tables are provided separately for deaths of women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over.
	Counties in England and Wales have been subject to administrative changes which affected the structure of many of these areas in the mid-1990s. Figures are therefore provided using current county boundaries which exclude unitary authority areas created from 1995 onwards.
	These tables have been placed in the library of the House of Commons.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will list those private Members' Bills introduced during the current session where policy responsibility rests with his Department;
	(2)  whether it is his policy to write to hon. Members presenting a private Member's Bill on a subject within his Department's responsibility to express his support, opposition or neutrality; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers have lead responsibility within Government for two private Members' Bills which have been presented in the 200506 session: the Income Tax (Earnings Exemption for Persons Living in Poverty) Bill and the Registration Service Bill.
	I and my ministerial colleagues are in direct contact with hon. Members sponsoring private Members' Bills concerning issues for which we have policy responsibility when it is appropriate to do so.

Public Bodies (Income from EU)

Phil Willis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will implement the commitment in the 2005 pre-Budget report to reform the budgeting arrangements for income received by public bodies from the EU; and if he will make a statement on how such changes will be effected.

John Healey: The 2005 pre-Budget report (CM 6701) announced reforms to the budgeting arrangements for income received from the EU by public bodies (page 230, paragraph B76, bullet 2). The new arrangements will apply from the beginning of 200607, and will be effected by way of a classification change to departmental budgets. In common with all such changes, Departments' budgets will be restated to take account of the change.

Red Diesel

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the timetable is for the negotiations with the EU on the derogation for red diesel use by pleasure craft; whether the case being made will be put in the public domain; and whether the public will be consulted.

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department expects to conclude its assessment of the implications of not securing an extension to the UK's current derogation from the EU energy products directive which enables non-commercial boats to purchase red diesel; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Members to what I said on the Floor of the House on 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2804, and the written answer I gave the hon. Member to the hon. Member for Stroud on 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2465W.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment will be drawn up in consultation with the main stakeholders such as the Royal Yachting Association and the British Marine Federation, and will be published at the time of the Chancellor's Budget.

Red Diesel

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions by HM Revenue and Customs for the illegal use of red diesel took place in 2005.

John Healey: As set out in HMRC's Annual Report 2004/2005, there were 12 convictions for oils fraud. Prosecution is an important tool in tackling fraud and it is used where it is the most effective sanction in tacking fraudsters.

Red Diesel

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of the amount of revenue lost in a year through the illegal use of red diesel in the UK.

John Healey: No estimate is available of the amount of revenue lost due to the illegal use of red diesel. However, an estimate of the total revenue lost due to all illicit activity relating to diesel and petrol is reported in 'Measuring Indirect Tax Losses-2005' which was published alongside the PBR and can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Registered Unemployed (Barnsley, East and Mexborough)

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the registered unemployed in Barnsley East and Mexborough were (a) under 25 years, (b) 26 to 35 years, (c) 36 to 45 years, (d) 46 to 55 years and (e) over 55 years according to the latest figures.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (42114)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for small areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 shows the percentage of unemployed, by specified age groups, who were resident in the Barnsley East and Mexborough Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 month period ending in March 2005. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2 shows the percentage of JSA claimants, by age bands, resident in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency for November 2005.
	
		Table 1: Percentage of unemployed by age bands resident in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency12 months ending March 2005
		
			 Age band Percentage 
		
		
			 25 and under 58 
			 26 to 35 (116) 
			 36 to 45 26 
			 46 to 55 (116) 
			 Over 55 (116) 
			 Total number of unemployed 1,200 
		
	
	(116) Estimate not available; sample size less than three could be disclosive.
	Source:
	Annual Population Survey
	
		Table 2: Percentage of claimants of jobseeker's allowance by age bands resident in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituencyNovember 2005
		
			 Age band Percentage 
		
		
			 25 and under 41.7 
			 26 to 35 22.0 
			 36 to 45 16.1 
			 46 to 55 14.4 
			 Over 55 5.8 
			 Total number of JSA claimants 1,250 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system.

Registrar Offices

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the vacancy rates are in registrar offices in Greater London.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the vacancy rates in register offices in Greater London. (41120)
	As at 11/1/06 there are 18 principal statutory registration officer posts 1 vacant out of 244 posts in the 33 register offices in Greater London (7.4 per cent.). No information is available on the number of vacancies that might exist in support staff posts (including deputy registration officers, clerical officers, receptionists, security staff, ushers).
	1 Principal statutory registration officers are Superintendent Registrars, Registrars of Births and Deaths and Additional Registrars for marriage.

Sustainable Development Action Plan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made for the launch of the Treasury Sustainable Development Action Plan; and whether he intends to make an oral statement to the House on the contents of the plan.

John Healey: The Treasury intend to publish a sustainable development action plan shortly. We plan to publish this on the HM Treasury website.

Taxation

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances a taxpayer would be liable to a surcharge for non-payment of a January instalment if the completed forms were received by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before 30 December but no calculation had been issued by HMRC.

Dawn Primarolo: A surcharge of 5 per cent. is added to tax payable but still unpaid 28 days after the due date for payment (31 January). A further surcharge of 5 per cent. is added to tax payable but still unpaid six months after the due date. 30 September is the filing deadline for paper self assessment tax returns if the taxpayer wants HMRC to calculate their tax and tell them how much to pay by 31 January of the following year. After 30 September HMRC will still calculate the tax but do not guarantee to do it in time for a calculation to go out to the taxpayer for the payment date of 31 January.
	Where self assessment tax returns are filed online the tax is calculated automatically thereby informing the taxpayer how much to pay by 31 January.

Taxation

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the share of gross income paid in tax by (a) each income decile and (b) each major household type in each year from 199697 to 200506, broken down by each major tax; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the lastest estimate of the share of gross income paid in tax by (a) each income decile and (b) each major household type, in each year from 199697 to 200506, broken down by each major tax. (41398)
	Estimates of the share of gross household income which is paid in tax are based on the Office for National Statistics analyses 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income' which is published annually. The latest analysis for 200304 was published on the National Statistics website on 7th July 2005 at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. These analyses include measures of income inequality for households in the United Kingdom based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (the Family Expenditure Survey before 200102). This is a sample survey covering approximately 6,000 to 7,000 households in the UK. Estimates are currently available only up to 200304. The analysis for 200405 is due to be published on the National Statistics website in April 2006.
	The samples on which the estimates are based are only sufficient to allow a breakdown to be given by quintile for the ratio of taxes to gross income, and not by decile. In addition it should be remembered that the annual analyses from which the figures are drawn are not designed primarily for direct comparison over time, and there have been some changes in methodology and definitions.
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library, tables showing taxes as a proportion of gross income for each income quintile where households an non-retired households in the UK. The disposable income quintile point boundaries have been calculated separately for the retired and non retired households. For example, the 1st quintile point for the retired households is the income below which one fifth of all retired households are estimated to lie and similarly for all households and non-retired households.
	A retired household in the analyses is defined as one where the combined income of 'retired' members amounts to at least half the total gross income of the household. A 'retired' person is defined as some one over minimum NI pension age who is 'unoccupied' or 'sick or injured but not intending to seek work,' or who describes themselves as 'retired.'
	Estimates of indirect taxes are imputed based on household expenditure. When comparing the incidence of indirect taxes on households at different levels of income, it should be remembered that measured expenditure will not necessarily balance with measured income for the year. On average measured expenditure exceeds measured income for households in the lower half of the distribution. There are a number of possible explanations for this. Some households with low incomes may draw on their savings or borrow in order to finance their expenditure. In addition, the lower decile in particular includes some groups, who have, or report, very little income (for example, self-employed people starting a business or someone who has just been made redundant). In these cases, expenditure is not being met from current income. Some types of receipts are not included as income in the EFS e.g. inheritance and severance payments. In some cases, the information given on expenditure is not consistent with that on income received because of timing differences.

Taxation

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings of full-time employees in the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood were in April in each year since 2000.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what the average earnings of full time employees in the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood are in April of each year since 2000 (41043)
	Currently average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach a table showing the Average Gross Weekly Earnings for full time employees by parliamentary constituency by place of work from 2000 to 2005. These statistics are also available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13101
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		Gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs(117) by place of work
		
			 Ruislip-Northwood Average gross weekly earnings () 
			  Median Mean 
		
		
			 2000 (118)439 (118)477 
			 2001 (119)391 (119)509 
			 2002 (119)394 (118)484 
			 2003 (119)446 (118)575 
			 2004 (119)440 (118)539 
			 2004(120) (119)434 (118)534 
			 2005 (119)446 (118)552 
		
	
	(117) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.
	(118) CV5% and =10%
	(119) CV10% and =20%
	(120) 2004 including supplementary surveys designed to improve the coverage of ASHE.
	Notes:
	Guide to quality:
	1. The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.
	2. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 190 to 210.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics

Taxation

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from personal taxation in the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood in (a) 1997 and (b) the last financial year for which figures are available.

John Healey: Estimates of total income tax revenue at constituency level are unavailable. Published information on the number of taxpayers and their mean and median total income by constituency, can be found in table 3.15 Total Income by Parliamentary Constituency on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/3_15_nov05.xls.

Unemployed People (Gateshead, East and Washington, West)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the registered unemployed in Gateshead, East and Washington, West were (a) 25 years and under, (b) 26 to 35 years, (c) 36 to 45 years, (d) 46 to 55 years and (e) over 55 years of age in the most recent period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Gateshead East and Washington West. (41624)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for small areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the percentage of unemployed, by specified age groups, who were resident in the Gateshead East and Washington West Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 month period ending in March 2005. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, and shows the percentage of JSA claimants, by age bands, resident in the Gateshead East and Washington West constituency for November 2005.
	
		Table 1: Percentage of unemployed by age bands resident in the Gateshead East and Washington West constituency 12 months ending March 2005
		
			 Age band Percentage 
		
		
			 25 and under 24.4 
			 26 to 35 27.1 
			 36 to 45 18.8 
			 46 to 55 16.6 
			 Over 55 13.1 
			 Total unemployed 2,500 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Population Survey
	
		Table 2: Percentage of claimants of jobseekers' allowance by age bands resident in the Gateshead East and Washington West constituencyNovember 2005
		
			 Age band Percentage 
		
		
			 25 and under 38.4 
			 26 to 35 21.1 
			 36 to 45 18.4 
			 46 to 55 15.5 
			 Over 55 6.7 
			 Total JSA claimants 1,360 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Untaxed Wine and Beer

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of lost revenue through the sale of untaxed wine and beer in the UK in 2005.

John Healey: No sound HM Revenue and Customs estimate is available on the loss of revenue through the sale of untaxed wine and beer in the UK in 2005.

Unclaimed Assets

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1839W, on unclaimed assets, how he intends to reinvest the sums to be raised by the Commission on Unclaimed Assets in communities within Scotland.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1839W. As announced in the pre-Budget report, the Commission on Unclaimed Assets is one of the stakeholders the Government will consult with in how best to reinvest money from unclaimed assets.